Alt + I N Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Name Menu (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

To do Alt + I N on Mac in Excel, install Accelerator Keys, then press Option, then I, then N. It opens the Excel 2003 Insert > Name menu. Then press the next letter, such as D for Define Name.

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If you are looking for the Alt + I N shortcut on Mac Excel, you may know it from Excel 2003, where Alt + I opened the Insert menu. Windows Excel still accepts these menu keys. With Accelerator Keys, they work on your Mac too.

What Does Alt + I N Do?

Alt + I + N is the legacy shortcut for the Insert > Name menu. From there you define a name, paste a name into a formula, create names from labels, or apply names to formulas.

How It Works on Mac

Excel for Mac keeps the Insert menu in the macOS menu bar. Accelerator Keys opens Insert > Name and shows the Windows letter on each item. Then you press the next letter, the same as on Windows. It works on any ribbon tab and at any window width.

Supported Alt + I N Sequences

Shortcut Command Modern Equivalent
Alt + I + N + D Define Name —
Alt + I + N + P Paste Name —
Alt + I + N + C Create Names from Selection Alt + M + C
Alt + I + N + A Apply Names —

Step-by-Step: How to do Alt + I N on Mac Excel

  1. Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
  2. Select the cells: Select the range you want to name, or the cell where you write a formula.
  3. Press Option: Press the Option key. It works like Alt on Windows.
  4. Press the letters one at a time: Press I, then N.
  5. Result: The Insert > Name submenu opens. Each item shows its Windows letter.

Then press the next letter from the table above. Press Esc to close the menu.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alt + I N work natively on Mac Excel?

No. Excel for Mac’s own KeyTips do not support the legacy Alt + E, Alt + I, Alt + O, and Alt + D menu keys. Accelerator Keys adds them. Press Option, then I, then N.

What keys come after Alt + I N?

Press D (Define Name), P (Paste Name), C (Create Names from Selection), A (Apply Names).

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