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

💡
Quick Answer

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

Download Accelerator Keys for Free Now

If you are looking for the Alt + I 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 Do?

Alt + I is the legacy shortcut for the Insert menu. From there you insert cells, rows, columns, sheets, page breaks, functions, comments, symbols, objects, hyperlinks, and names.

How It Works on Mac

Excel for Mac keeps the Insert menu in the macOS menu bar. Accelerator Keys opens Insert 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 Sequences

Shortcut Command Modern Equivalent
Alt + I + E Insert Cells Alt + H + I + I
Alt + I + R Insert Rows Alt + H + I + R
Alt + I + C Insert Columns Alt + H + I + C
Alt + I + W Insert Worksheet Alt + H + I + S
Alt + I + B Page Break Alt + P + B + I
Alt + I + F Insert Function Alt + M + F
Alt + I + M Insert Comment Alt + R + C
Alt + I + S Insert Symbol Alt + N + U
Alt + I + O Insert Object —
Alt + I + I Insert Hyperlink —
Alt + I + N Name Menu —

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

  1. Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
  2. Select a cell: Click the cell where you want to insert something.
  3. Press Option: Press the Option key. It works like Alt on Windows.
  4. Press the letter: Press I.
  5. Result: The Insert menu 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 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.

What keys come after Alt + I?

Press E (Insert Cells), R (Insert Rows), C (Insert Columns), W (Insert Worksheet), B (Page Break), F (Insert Function), M (Insert Comment), S (Insert Symbol), O (Insert Object), I (Insert Hyperlink), N (Name Menu).

Related Links