How to Use Clear All Shortcut in Google Sheets? Detailed Guide

Clearing all data in Google Sheets helps you remove values, formats, and notes quickly. While Google Sheets doesn’t have a single built-in “Clear All” shortcut, you can achieve the same result through a combination of menu actions and keyboard commands.

Clear All in Google Sheets

However, a better option is to use the SheetWhiz extension for Sheets, since it provides multiple shortcuts that are otherwise available in Excel only. This guide will explain how you can Clear All in Google Sheets using different built-in methods and SheetWhiz.

What Does “Clear All” Mean in Google Sheets?

“Clear All” removes everything inside a selected range, including content and formatting. However, it keeps the cells and layout intact. Unlike deleting rows or columns, it doesn’t affect the sheet structure. Here is its distinction from other options:

• Clear Contents removes only the data.

• Clear Formatting resets styles but keeps values.

• Delete removes the data within the cells.

If you are cleaning templates or reusing dashboards, Clear All is faster and less destructive than deleting the cells.

Is There a Clear All Shortcut in Google Sheets?

As said above, Google Sheets does not have a one-step “Clear All” shortcut. Users must combine multiple shortcuts or menu actions to achieve the same result.

Below is a quick comparison of related shortcuts in Sheets and Excel:

Function	Google Sheets Shortcut	Excel Shortcut	Outcome
Clear Contents	Delete	Delete	Removes cell data only
Clear Formatting	Ctrl + \	ALT + H + E + F	Removes style but keeps content
Clear Comments	Right-click → Clear Notes	ALT + R + D	Removes comments/notes

So, while Excel has a single Alt-sequence for “Clear All,” Google Sheets users must combine several commands.

Note: If you want to learn about all the available shortcuts in Sheets, you must go through our list of all the Google Sheets shortcuts.

How to Clear All Data in Google Sheets

In the following sections, we have shared a few methods by which you can Clear All data in Sheets:

Method 1: Use the Edit Menu to Clear All

This doesn't necessarily "clear all" data in the Sheets, but the menu contains a few options that help with removing values and other data. Here are the steps that explain how you can access the Delete options through the Edit menu in Sheets:

Step 1: Start by selecting the cells that you want to clear. noIn the Menu ribbon, go to the Edit tab and choose the Delete option from the dropdown.

Step 2: From the secondary dropdown, choose any of the desired options to clear the cells.

Delete menu in Google Sheets to clear data

The available options are:

• Values: Deletes only the text, numbers, or formulas inside selected cells without affecting their formatting or notes. This is useful when you want to reset data but keep the cell styling intact.

• Row [number]: Completely removes the selected row from the sheet. All data below it shifts upward automatically.

• Columns [letters]: Deletes the chosen columns entirely, and remaining columns move left to fill the gap. It’s ideal for cleaning up unused fields.

• Cells and shift up: Deletes selected cells and shifts the cells below them upward. This keeps the sheet layout consistent without adding blank spaces.

• Cells and shift left: Removes the selected cells and shifts the remaining ones to the left. It’s often used to clean partial sections of data within a row.

• Notes: Clears any cell notes attached to the selection. It doesn’t affect the visible data or formatting in those cells.

Method 2: Use Apps Script for Full Clearing

While no default shortcut is available, you can build a script to clear everything in one command. App Script allows you to automate that process into one click or shortcut. It’s the most flexible and repeatable solution, especially if you handle large datasets or templates that need resetting frequently.

Here’s how to create and use a custom Clear All script:

Step 1: In your Google Sheet, go to Extensions and choose Apps Script. This opens the built-in scripting editor, where you can add simple code.

Apps Script in Sheets

Step 2: Paste this code into the editor:

function clearAll() {

var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();

sheet.clear();

}

Step 3: Click the Save icon and give your project a clear name (e.g., “Clear All Script”). Afterward, hit the Run button for the first time.

Run the script in Sheets

Step 4: You’ll be asked to grant permissions because it’s modifying spreadsheet data. Approve the access request from your Google account.

Grant the necessary permissions to run the script

Step 5: To run it via a button, use Extensions > Macros > Import.

Import Macros in Sheets

Step 6: Afterward, select the script and assign a custom shortcut under Tools > Macros > Manage Macros. Once assigned, hit the Update button to start using the shortcut.

Assign a custom shortcut and update the macro

The SheetWhiz Way: Quick Shortcut to Clear All in Google Sheets

Instead of going through all the technical stuff, you can install the SheetWhiz extension to access its various shortcuts, including Clear All. SheetWhiz is a dedicated extension that allows you to access Excel-like shortcuts in Sheets.

With this useful extension, you can use shortcuts like Clear All, Merge Cells, or even open the filter dropdown menu with customizable shortcuts. Apart from these straightforward shortcuts, you get options for tracing precedents, formatting cycling, and goal seek.

Step-by-Step Guide to Clear All using SheetWhiz

SheetWhiz works without any technical knowledge. All it needs is for you to install it and start using it. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Install the SheetWhiz Chrome extension from the Web Store.

Step 2: Open or reload a Google Sheet. You should see a SheetWhiz icon appear in the top right. Once you press the icon, it will prompt you to log in using your Google account.

SheetWhiz icon in Sheets

Step 3: As you log in, the SheetWhiz panel will open. Now, select the targeted cells and press ALT + H + E + A (Option + H + E + A for Mac) shortcut key to use the Clear All function. If you want to clear the formatting only, use the ALT + H + E + F (Option + H + E + F for Mac) key.

Clear All using the SheetWhiz shortcut

Note: We would like to clarify that Clear All in Google Sheets is actually Clear Formatting + Delete function. It doesn’t clear comments or notes from the applied cells.

How to Customize Shortcuts in Sheets with SheetWhiz

The good thing about SheetWhiz is that you can customize the shortcut keys for specific functions. For example, if you are making a move from Excel, you can edit the shortcut keys inside Sheets using SheetWhiz.

In this way, your workflow will remain streamlined. The following tutorial shows how easy it is to edit shortcut keys in SheetWhiz:

Shortcut customization in SheetWhiz

Why is Google Sheets Better with SheetWhiz?

Although Google Sheets is a standard tool in many organizations to manage workbooks, it still lacks many features and shortcuts that are available in Excel. As a result, people shifting to Sheets face issues getting their hands settled. They especially miss shortcuts that are available in Excel, but not in Sheets.

SheetWhiz covers this gap by allowing users to access all their Excel shortcuts within Sheets. A few of the shortcuts that you can use in Sheets with the help of SheetWhiz are:

Feature	How It Helps
Trace Precedents / Trace Dependents	Lets you see all cells feeding into a formula or depending on a cell.
Excel-style Shortcuts	Brings missing shortcuts (insert/delete, borders, alignment, etc.) into Sheets.
Format Cycling / Number Cycle / Color Cycle	Cycle through number formats, font colors, fill colors without opening menus.
Clear All / Clear Formatting	Offers one-click or keyboard-mapped clearing of contents + formatting.
Goal Seek / What-If tools	Adds scenario analysis tools absent in native Sheets.
Export Selection as Image	Copy a range as image (with formatting) for Slides or Docs.
Preset & Custom Shortcuts	Set the shortcut keys you prefer, mapping to your workflow.

Concluding Remarks

There is no single shortcut combination that you can use to "Clear All" in Google Sheets. However, using the Delete menu or creating a custom Apps script can help access this function in Sheets. In contrast, the most ideal and recommended way to access the Clear All and other useful shortcuts in Sheets is to use SheetWhiz.