How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Business Central

Boost Productivity with Time-Saving Tips for UK Businesses

In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, efficiency is key — and for businesses using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, mastering keyboard shortcuts can make everyday tasks faster, smoother, and far less repetitive.

Whether you're managing finances, handling inventory, or tracking sales, learning a few well-placed keyboard shortcuts in Business Central can help your team stay focused and reduce reliance on the mouse.

This blog will explore the most useful keyboard shortcuts in Business Central, plus highlight the top picks for different job roles — helping everyone from finance managers to warehouse staff work smarter, not harder.

🔑 Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter in Business Central

Business Central is a powerful ERP platform — but navigating its many features can slow down even the most tech-savvy users. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to:

• Move between windows and pages quickly

• Save time on data entry and lookups

• Improve focus by avoiding unnecessary clicks

• Reduce errors by streamlining repeat tasks

Whether you're new to the platform or a seasoned user, shortcuts are a small change that makes a big difference — especially across departments.

📋 General List of Keyboard Shortcuts in Business Central

These are the most commonly used shortcuts that work across roles and departments:

Shortcut	Action
Alt + Q	Search for pages or reports
Alt + F2	Show or hide the FactBox
Ctrl + Alt + F1	Open the page inspection pane
F8	Copy the field from the row above
Ctrl + Enter	Save and close the page
Esc	Close the current page or pop-up
Ctrl + Shift + F12	Open the Role Explorer
Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down	Navigate between FastTabs
Alt + Down Arrow	Open a drop-down list or lookup

For a full list, Microsoft offers a complete reference here: Official Shortcut Guide

👩‍💼 Top 3 Keyboard Shortcuts by Role (Where Applicable)

📊 Finance Manager

Stay on top of journals, ledgers, and approvals with these:

1. F8 – Quickly copy values in journals

2. Ctrl + Enter – Post or save and move on

3. Alt + Q – Find what you need, fast

🛒 Sales Representative

Speed up quoting, orders, and customer searches:

1. Alt + Q – Quickly search for customers or documents

2. F9 – Post documents (e.g., sales orders)

3. Ctrl + Alt + F1 – Inspect page data for client troubleshooting

📦 Warehouse Staff / Inventory Manager

Keep control of stock and logistics with ease:

1. F8 – Copy quantities or bin codes

2. Alt + Down Arrow – Open lookup lists for item codes

3. Ctrl + Page Down – Move between data entry sections

👨‍💻 Admin / System Superuser

For managing multiple users and configurations:

1. Ctrl + Shift + F12 – Open Role Explorer to manage permissions

2. Alt + F2 – Show/hide page insights (FactBox)

3. Ctrl + Alt + F1 – Troubleshoot with page inspection

🧠 Pro Tip: Combine Shortcuts with Personalisation

Once your team has nailed the basic shortcuts, encourage them to explore personalised Role Centres and views. Combining keyboard shortcuts with a tailored workspace unlocks the real efficiency gains in Business Central.

🔎 Final Thoughts: Small Tweaks, Big Impact

Learning keyboard shortcuts in Business Central is a quick win with long-term benefits. It’s not just about saving a few seconds — it’s about creating habits that improve focus, reduce admin stress, and empower your team to work more fluidly.

As a Microsoft Silver Partner with over 19 years’ experience supporting UK businesses, we’ve helped hundreds of users adopt Business Central successfully. Keyboard shortcuts are one of the first things we recommend to drive adoption and confidence in the system.

🧩 Need Help Getting More Out of Business Central?

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