Excel Cursor and Mouse Pointer Shapes

Excel changes its mouse pointer shape according to its current functionality. Below are some of important mouse pointer shapes and its related functionality.

General Select

When Excel's mouse pointer is at "General Select" shape as marked in below image, it is ready to select a cell or a range of cells within in Excel worksheet.

Fill Data

Fill data mouse pointer shape appears when you hover the mouse pointer over the small square at the bottom right corner of the cell. When Excel's mouse pointer is at "Fill Data" shape as marked in below image, it can fill data or extend a data series.

I-Beam Cursor

Excel blinking I-Beam text cursor indicates that you can enter data inside a cell by typing text at the location of cursor. Excel blinking I-Beam text cursor is marked in below image.

Arrow Mouse Pointer

Normal Arrow cursor shape appears when when you select menu or commands in Ribbon. It appears when moving a selection also. While moving a selection, Arrow Mouse pointer has a small cross also.

Arrow Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Column Resize Mouse Pointer

Column Resize Mouse Pointer appears when mouse hover at the border between Column letters. When Column Resize Mouse Pointer appears, you need to click and drag to increase or decrease the width of a column.

Column Resize Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Row Resize Mouse Pointer

Row Resize Mouse Pointer appears when mouse hover at the border between Row numbers. When Row Resize Mouse Pointer appear, you need to click and drag to increase or decrease the height of a row.

Row Resize Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Move Selected cells Mouse Pointer

Move Selected cells Mouse Pointer appears when mouse hover at border of a cell or range of cells. When Move Selected cells Mouse Pointer appear, you need to click and drag to move the data to another location within worksheet.

Move Selected cells Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Copy Selected Cells Mouse Pointer

Copy Selected Cells Mouse Pointer appears when "Ctrl" key is pressed and mouse hover at border of a cell or range of cells. When Copy Selected Cells Mouse Pointer appear, you need to click and drag to copy the data to another location within worksheet.

Copy Selected Cells Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Select Entire Column Mouse Pointer

Select Entire Column Mouse Pointer appears when mouse hover at any Column label. If you click when Select Entire Column Mouse Pointer appear, entire column is selected, as shown im below image.

Select Entire Column Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.

Select Entire Row Mouse Pointer

Select Entire Row Mouse Pointer appears when mouse hover at any Row number. If you click when Select Entire Row Mouse Pointer appear, entire row is selected, as shown im below image.

Select Entire Row Mouse Pointer is shown in below image.