Alt X Y S on Mac: Subtract in Excel

To run Subtract with Alt X Y S in Excel on a Mac, install LightningXL, tap Option, then type X, Y, S. The same keys as Windows, with the same result.

⌥Option
XLightningXL
YSymbol
SSubtract

Step by step

  1. Install LightningXL

    Download LightningXL, then follow the instructions. Setup takes about two minutes.

  2. Select what to act on

    Click a cell, or select the range the command should apply to.

  3. Tap Option, then type X Y S

    Tap ⌥ on its own to show the keytips, then X for LightningXL, Y for Symbol, S for Subtract.

What Alt X Y S does

Subtract sits under LightningXL › Symbol on the Excel ribbon. On Windows, Alt X Y S runs it from the keyboard. Excel for Mac has the same ribbon but no Alt key, so without LightningXL you click through LightningXL › Symbol › Subtract instead.

Related shortcuts

The rest of the Symbol menu in Excel:

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