Does this shortcut work the same way in every app?

No. The listed contexts include Microsoft Excel, Photoshop, Gmail, Figma, Notion, Vim, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Sublime Text. Check the table for each application and platform: the active window, keyboard layout and application settings determine which command receives the key press. An application being available on an operating system is not evidence that this exact binding works there.

What should I use on a Mac?

Use a macOS binding shown in the table, if one is recorded for your task and application. This page does not assume that replacing Ctrl with Cmd produces a working Mac shortcut. When an equivalent has not been independently verified, open the linked application reference and check its documented context before relying on it.

What does Ctrl+[ do?

In Microsoft Excel, Ctrl+[ means: Select cells that are referenced by the formula in the active cell.

Last verified: Not yet independently verified

Where this shortcut applies

What does Ctrl+[ do?
App	Platform	What it does
Microsoft Excel	Platform not independently verified	Select cells that are referenced by the formula in the active cell Verification pending
Microsoft Excel	macOS	Select cells that are referenced by the formula in the active cell Verification pending
Photoshop	Platform not independently verified	Move the selected layer one step down in the stack Verification pending
Gmail	Platform not independently verified	Reduce the indent of the current paragraph Verification pending
Figma	Platform not independently verified	Move the selected layer to the bottom of the stack Verification pending
Notion	Platform not independently verified	Navigate to the previous page in history Verification pending
Vim	Platform not independently verified	Return to Normal mode from any other mode — the home base Verification pending
Microsoft PowerPoint	Platform not independently verified	Send the object one layer backward Verification pending
Adobe Illustrator	Platform not independently verified	Move selected object one layer down Verification pending
Canva	Platform not independently verified	Move element one layer backward Verification pending
Sublime Text	Platform not independently verified	Remove one level of indentation Verification pending

Full shortcut pages

Frequently asked questions

What does Ctrl+[ do?: In Microsoft Excel, Ctrl+[ means: Select cells that are referenced by the formula in the active cell.
Does this shortcut work the same way in every app?: No. The listed contexts include Microsoft Excel, Photoshop, Gmail, Figma, Notion, Vim, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Sublime Text. Check the table for each application and platform: the active window, keyboard layout and application settings determine which command receives the key press. An application being available on an operating system is not evidence that this exact binding works there.
What should I use on a Mac?: Use a macOS binding shown in the table, if one is recorded for your task and application. This page does not assume that replacing Ctrl with Cmd produces a working Mac shortcut. When an equivalent has not been independently verified, open the linked application reference and check its documented context before relying on it.