Mastering Keyboard Shortcuts in Business Central

 A Quick Win for Busy Teams Using Dynamics 365

If you use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central in your day-to-day work, chances are you’ve clicked through the same tabs and pages more times than you can count.

Here’s a simple trick to speed things up: keyboard shortcuts.

Whether you're processing sales orders, updating stock levels, or reviewing reports, shortcuts in Business Central help you move faster, reduce errors, and stay focused. This guide covers the most useful ones — and even gives you a “top 3” for different job roles.

Why Keyboard Shortcuts Are a Smart Move

Let’s be honest: no one has time to click through five menus just to post a document.
Shortcuts are one of the easiest ways to:

  • Save time on repetitive tasks

  • Cut down on mouse clicks and switching windows

  • Improve accuracy and focus

  • Help new users onboard faster

It’s not about being flashy — it’s about removing friction from your day.

Most Useful Business Central Shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts we recommend to almost everyone using Business Central:

ShortcutWhat it does
Alt + QSearch for pages and reports
F8Copy the field from the row above
Ctrl + EnterSave and close the page
Alt + F2Show/hide the FactBox
Ctrl + Alt + F1Open the Page Inspector
Ctrl + Shift + F12Open Role Explorer
Alt + Down ArrowOpen dropdowns/lookups
Ctrl + Page Up / DownSwitch between FastTabs
EscClose the page or pop-up

👉 You can find the full list on Microsoft’s official documentation here.

Role-Based: Top 3 Shortcuts for Different Users

Because Business Central works differently for every department, here are some shortcut highlights by role:

💼 Finance Manager

Journals, ledgers, approvals — time is money.

  • F8 – Copy values in ledger rows

  • Ctrl + Enter – Post and close fast

  • Alt + Q – Search for accounts or vendors

📈 Sales Team

For faster quotes, orders, and customer lookup:

  • Alt + Q – Find customers or sales pages

  • F9 – Post sales documents

  • Ctrl + Alt + F1 – Inspect what’s causing page issues

📦 Inventory / Warehouse

Efficiency = fewer mistakes and faster pick/pack.

  • F8 – Repeat previous values (e.g., bin code)

  • Alt + Down Arrow – Lookup items or stock levels

  • Ctrl + Page Down – Navigate quickly between entry sections

🧑‍💻 System Admin / Superuser

Troubleshooting? Setup? Permissions?

  • Ctrl + Shift + F12 – Dive into Role Explorer

  • Alt + F2 – Toggle FactBoxes for extra insights

  • Ctrl + Alt + F1 – Open Page Inspection

Why We Recommend This at Dynamics Fanatics

We’ve seen first-hand how small tweaks like this help people fall in love with Business Central (or at least get less frustrated with it).

Shortcuts are often one of the first things we teach during an implementation — because they immediately make the system feel easier to use. And for busy teams, that confidence boost matters.

Want More Business Central Tips?

We help businesses unlock the full potential of Business Central — from tailored implementations to hands-on training and support. If you’re already using BC and want to do more with it, we’re here to help.

👉 Visit dynamicsfanatics.com

What’s Your Favourite Shortcut?

Leave a comment or connect with us — we love hearing what works for real users.

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