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Excel Shortcut for Color Fill: How to Use the Paint Bucket Tool

Microsoft Excel‘s Paint Bucket Tool is an essential feature for enhancing your spreadsheets, providing a quick and effective way to apply color fill to cells. This guide will show you how to use this tool to organize and highlight key data, making your documents more visually appealing and easier to interpret, essential for professional and clear data presentation.

Step 1. Select the Cells for Color Fill


Initiate the color fill process in Microsoft Excel by selecting the cells you wish to modify. This can be achieved either by clicking and dragging your mouse across the desired cells or by clicking the first cell and then, while holding the “Shift” key, clicking the last cell in your intended range. Accurate selection is crucial for effective color application.

Step 2. Opt for a Suitable Color

Having highlighted the cells, proceed to the Paint Bucket Tool, located in the “Font” section under the “Home” tab. Clicking this icon unveils a drop-down menu brimming with color choices. Here, simply click your preferred color to proceed.

You can also refer to these helpful articles on how to use Excel shortcuts:

The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel
Top 5 Excel Shortcuts for Creating Tables

Step 3. Apply the Selected Color

With your color chosen, click on the previously selected cells. The Paint Bucket Tool will promptly fill these cells with your chosen color. This step can be repeated to apply the same color to additional cells, ensuring a uniform and professional appearance. Also, check out the Top 5 ways to quickly color a cell in Excel to improve your knowledge in this aspect.

Step 4. Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficiency

For those seeking to expedite the use of the Paint Bucket Tool, several keyboard shortcuts are available:

Alt + H + H + F: This sequence opens the “Fill Color” drop-down menu directly, facilitating swift color selection.
Alt + H + H + H: Use this to quickly apply the most recently used color to selected cells.
Ctrl + Shift + L: This toggles the “Filter” feature, allowing for rapid data filtering and management.

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FAQs

What is the primary function of the Paint Bucket Tool in Excel?

The Paint Bucket Tool in Excel is used for applying a specific color to selected cells.

How do I access the Paint Bucket Tool in Excel?

The Paint Bucket Tool can be found in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab.

Can I use a keyboard shortcut to open the Fill Color menu in Excel?

Yes, pressing Alt + H + H + F opens the Fill Color drop-down menu.

Is it possible to apply the last used color quickly in Excel?

Yes, by using the shortcut Alt + H + H + H, you can apply the last used color.

Can I use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill multiple cells at once in Excel?

Yes, you can fill multiple cells simultaneously by selecting them before using the Paint Bucket Tool.

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