en-US office user

Disable shortcut keys

Verified with Microsoft 365/Office 5568.1000 — updated on September 4, 2026

Microsoft 365/Office 5568.1000

Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Path in the GPO console

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Excel 2016\Disable Items in User Interface\Custom

Description

This policy setting allows you to disable any shortcut key by using its virtual key code ID, including shortcut keys that are not in the predefined lists. If you enable this policy setting, you can enter a virtual key code ID number to disable a specific shortcut key. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, all default shortcut keys are enabled for users.

Registry

HKCU software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\disabledshortcutkeyslist

More options available

Options

Enter a key and modifier to disable
value prefix: KeyMod list

Export Builder

BETA

Configure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.

These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO.

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Disable shortcut keys
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\disabledshortcutkeyslist]
; List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable shortcut keys
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.

$path = 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\disabledshortcutkeyslist'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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