Ctrl+X

Updated: 12/10/2023 by Computer Hope
Ctrl+X or Control+X keyboard shortcut

Alternatively called Control+X and C-x, ^x, Ctrl+X is a keyboard shortcut most commonly used to cut a selected section of text, image, or other object. Below are other programs that use this keyboard shortcut and related information.

Tip

If you mistakenly cut something, press Ctrl+Z to undo your last action and restore the object.

Tip

On Apple computers, the keyboard shortcut to cut is Command+X.

How to use the Ctrl+X keyboard shortcut

To use this keyboard shortcut, press and hold either Ctrl key, and while continuing to hold, press X.

Ctrl+X in an Internet browser

In all major Internet browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera), pressing Ctrl+X cuts editable text. For example, while in a text box, you could cut text and move it to another field using the paste function.

Note

Ctrl+X only works if the text is editable. If you tried to cut any of the text on this page (that is not editable), the keyboard shortcut does not work. However, you can copy text from a web page using the Ctrl+C shortcut.

Ctrl+X in Excel and other spreadsheet programs

In Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, pressing Ctrl+X cuts any cell, text, or other object that is selected in the spreadsheet.

Note

If you're editing the contents of a cell and press Ctrl+X, nothing will happen.

Ctrl+X in Microsoft PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, Ctrl+X cuts any text, picture, or other object that is selected.

Ctrl+X in the command line

In many command line commands, such as edit, elm, and pico, Ctrl+X is used to exit the program or file.

Ctrl+X in Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word and other word processors, pressing Ctrl+X cuts any text, picture, or other object that is selected.

Ctrl+X in Google Docs

Pressing Ctrl+X in Google Docs cuts the highlighted text or other object.

Below are links to related keyboard shortcuts and individual key pages.

Ctrl, Cut, Keyboard shortcut, Keyboard terms, X