Excel New Comment Shortcut: Windows, Mac, and Notes

In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select a cell and press Ctrl+Alt+M to add a new comment. The comment is attached to that cell; to create a traditional note instead, use Shift+F2 or choose the note command on the Review tab.

What the new-comment shortcut does

Ctrl+Alt+M opens a comment box for the selected cell. Type your message, then post it using the button in the comment box or the keyboard instructions shown there. A comment is a threaded discussion: people with access to the workbook can reply, and the conversation stays associated with the cell rather than appearing as text in the worksheet grid.

The shortcut works on the active cell, so check the selection before you type. If you select a range, Excel associates the comment with the active cell in that selection. For example, if you want to ask a question about the value in D12, click D12 first, press Ctrl+Alt+M, and write a message such as “Does this figure include the May adjustment?”

If the selected cell already has a comment, the shortcut may take you to that conversation rather than starting a second one. Add a reply to continue the existing thread. This helps keep discussion about one cell together and avoids scattering related questions across duplicate comments.

How to add a comment from the ribbon

The ribbon is a dependable alternative when you cannot remember the shortcut, are using a different keyboard, or need to confirm that you are choosing a comment rather than a note. In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows:

Select the cell you want to discuss.
Open the Review tab.
Choose New Comment in the Comments group.
Enter the message and post it.

You can also right-click a cell and choose New Comment from its context menu when that command is available. The ribbon and context-menu route are useful in shared workbooks, where you may want to check the selected cell before posting. If the Review tab or command is not visible, maximize the Excel window or look for a collapsed ribbon group; the available controls can vary with window size and update channel.

Comments and notes are different

Excel uses two cell annotations that are easy to confuse. Modern comments are threaded conversations, designed for collaboration. You can reply to a comment, and in supported Microsoft 365 environments you can mention a colleague with an @mention. A mention may notify the person, depending on workbook sharing and organizational settings.

Notes are the older style of annotation, formerly called comments in earlier Excel versions. A note is more like a small static reminder attached to a cell; it does not have a reply thread. In Windows desktop Excel, Shift+F2 is the familiar shortcut for inserting or editing a note. The ribbon keeps the two choices distinct: use Review > New Comment for a discussion, or Review > New Note for a traditional note.

For example, a team reviewing a forecast might add a comment asking why a number changed and let a colleague reply with the explanation. A note might instead say “Amounts in thousands” as a persistent reminder for anyone reading the sheet. If you press Shift+F2 and see a small note box rather than a threaded conversation, you have opened the note feature, not the new-comment feature.

Replying, resolving, and managing a thread

Adding the first comment is only one part of using the feature. Select the cell or open its comment, then reply in the thread to keep the follow-up attached to the original question. This is usually clearer than adding a fresh comment for every response. When the issue is settled, use the thread’s menu to resolve it where that option is available. A resolved conversation is treated as finished and may be hidden from the active discussion view, but it is not the same as deleting the comment.

Use a comment for a specific question or decision that other workbook users need to discuss. Keep the message focused and identify the relevant number, period, or assumption. For instance, “Please confirm whether the 8% rate in F7 is the approved rate for Q3” gives a collaborator a clear task. A vague message such as “Check this” may not explain what needs attention.

Comments are attached to cells, not used as a replacement for worksheet data. Avoid placing essential instructions only in a discussion that readers might overlook. If a definition or assumption must remain visible to every reader, consider putting it in a clearly labeled cell or using a note, depending on how the workbook is shared and maintained.

Using the shortcut on Mac and in Excel for the web

Keyboard shortcuts can differ between operating systems and Excel releases. On Excel for Mac, the commonly documented shortcut for a new comment is Command+Shift+F2. If your Mac’s function-key settings or Excel build make that combination inconvenient, use Review > New Comment instead. That menu command is also the clearest option if your keyboard layout does not match the shortcut instructions.

Excel for the web supports comments, but browser and keyboard settings can affect shortcut behavior. If Ctrl+Alt+M does not open a comment in your browser, select the cell and use Review > New Comment or the cell’s context menu. The web app’s controls may look somewhat different from the Windows desktop ribbon, but the distinction between threaded comments and older-style notes remains important.

Shortcuts can also be affected by remote-desktop software, keyboard utilities, or a system-level key assignment. When a shortcut appears not to work, try the ribbon command before assuming that comments are unavailable. Menu commands are generally easier to follow across versions and platforms.

Common problems and quick fixes

The shortcut does nothing: Confirm that Excel is the active window and a worksheet cell is selected. Try the Review tab’s New Comment command to distinguish a shortcut conflict from a workbook or app limitation.
A note appears instead of a thread: You likely used Shift+F2 or selected New Note. Choose Review > New Comment for a threaded discussion.
You cannot post or collaborate: Check whether you have permission to edit the workbook and whether it is saved in a location that supports the collaboration features you need. A protected sheet or restricted file may limit what you can change.
The conversation is already there: Open the existing thread and reply instead of creating a duplicate. If the cell has a note, use the note controls to edit that annotation separately.
The command is hard to find: Look under Review and check whether the ribbon is collapsed. In a narrow window, some labels or groups may be condensed.

It is also worth checking which Excel app you are using. Older desktop releases may label threaded discussions differently or may not include the same collaboration features as current Microsoft 365. If a workbook is opened in more than one version, users may see differences in how comments and notes are displayed. The Review tab provides the most useful clue: choose the command explicitly labeled New Comment when you want a conversation.

Choosing between a shortcut and the menu

Use Ctrl+Alt+M when you are working quickly and know that a threaded discussion is what you need. It avoids moving your hands to the ribbon and is especially convenient when reviewing many cells. Use the Review tab when you are unsure whether you need a comment or a note, when you are on a different platform, or when a shortcut is intercepted by another program.

For a recurring review process, agree on a simple team convention. For example, use comments for questions that need a response and notes for brief reference information. That convention makes it easier for the next person to tell whether an annotation is an open conversation or a static explanation. It also reduces the chance that an important request will be mistaken for a note that nobody is expected to answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Excel shortcut for a new comment?
In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select a cell and press Ctrl+Alt+M. Use Review > New Comment if the shortcut is unavailable or does not work on your setup.

Is Ctrl+Alt+M the shortcut for a note?
No. It opens a threaded comment in current Excel for Microsoft 365. On Windows, Shift+F2 is the familiar shortcut for inserting or editing a traditional note.

What is the new-comment shortcut on a Mac?
Command+Shift+F2 is commonly used in Excel for Mac. Because keyboard behavior can vary by release and function-key settings, Review > New Comment is a reliable alternative.

Can I add a comment to more than one cell?
A comment is associated with a particular cell. Select the cell that best represents the discussion before adding it; when a range is selected, Excel uses the active cell in that selection.

How do I respond to an existing comment?
Open the comment thread for its cell and enter a reply there. Continuing the existing conversation keeps the question and its answers together, instead of creating a separate thread for the same issue.

Why do I see New Note instead of New Comment?
Excel offers both features. New Note creates an older-style, non-threaded annotation; choose Review > New Comment when you want a conversation that collaborators can reply to.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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