How to Select All in Word (6 Ways with Shortcuts) (2024)

Check Out These 6 Ways to Select All in Microsoft Word Documents

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 24, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft^®Word^® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

In Microsoft Word documents, you can select all using the Ribbon or keyboard shortcuts. You can select all text in a document, select from the cursor to the end or the beginning of the document, select all text with similar formatting or select all cells in a table.

Recommended article: 10 Microsoft Word Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for Selecting in Tables

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When you select all using a keyboard shortcut or the Ribbon, the main content of the document is highlighted and headers and footers are selected only if there are section breaks in the document because headers and footers are attached to sections. Headers and footers for the last section are not included as the last section is not followed by a section break. If you are trying to select all to change the font and size for an entire document, a better strategy is to use themes and styles.

1. Select all using a keyboard shortcut

To select all using a keyboard shortcut, click in the document and then press Ctrl + A to select the entire document.

2. Select all using the Ribbon

To select all using the Ribbon:

1. Click in the document.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Editing group, click Select. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click Select All.

Select All appears in the Select drop-down menu on the Home tab in the Ribbon:

3. Select all from the cursor to the end of the document

To select all from the cursor to the end of the document using a keyboard shortcut, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Ctrl + Shift + End.

4. Select all from the cursor to the beginning of the document

To select all from the cursor to the beginning of the document, position the cursor where you want to start the selection and then press Ctrl + Shift + Home.

5. Select all text with similar formatting

To select all text with similar formatting:

1. Select the text with the desired formatting.
2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Editing group, click Select. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click Select Text with Similar Formatting.

All text with the same formatting will be selected and you can clear the formatting or apply other formatting.

Select Text with Similar Formatting appears in the Select drop-down menu on the Home tab in the Ribbon:

6. Select all cells in a table

To select all cells in a table, click in the table, press Alt and then double-click. You can also click the four-arrow pointer on the top left of the table.

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