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In Word, the quickest dependable way to add a table row depends on where you are working: the Windows desktop app, Word for Mac, or Word for the web. On Windows, you can use the ribbon with keyboard KeyTips; on Mac, the Table Layout commands are the reliable option. You can also press Tab in the final cell to append a row.
This guide covers inserting a row above or below an existing row, adding several rows at once, and fixing the most common shortcut mistakes.
Insert a row in a Word table on Windows
First click in the row that should determine the new row’s position. Word then displays the contextual Table Design and Layout tabs.
Using the ribbon
- Click in any cell of the target row.
- Open the Layout tab under Table Tools.
- In the Rows & Columns group, select Insert Above or Insert Below.
Insert Above places a blank row immediately before the row containing the cursor. Insert Below places it immediately after that row. These instructions apply to the current Windows versions listed by Microsoft, including Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016.
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Windows keyboard sequence for one row
For the documented Windows sequence, click inside the target row and press:
- Row above: Alt, J, L, A
- Row below: Alt, J, L, B, E
Press the keys in sequence rather than holding them as one combination. The first keys open the table’s Layout tab, and the remaining keys activate the relevant command.
These sequences come from Microsoft’s screen-reader instructions and work as documented in supported Windows desktop configurations. For ordinary ribbon keyboard navigation, press Alt and follow the KeyTips Word displays. KeyTips can differ between Word versions, ribbon customizations, and the current command state, so the letters shown on your screen take precedence if they differ.
Add a row at the end with Tab
To append a row to the bottom of a table:
- Click in the table’s final cell—the last cell in the last row.
- Press Tab.
Word creates a new row and places the cursor in its first cell. This is often the fastest method when you are entering data from top to bottom.
Important: Tab only creates a row from the final cell. If the cursor is in an earlier cell, pressing Tab moves to the next cell instead.
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Insert multiple rows at once on Windows
Word can add several rows in one operation. The number of rows you select determines the number Word inserts.
- Select the same number of existing rows as the number you want to add. For example, select two complete rows if you want two new rows.
- Open Layout under Table Tools.
- Choose Insert Above or Insert Below.
For example, selecting two rows and choosing Insert Above adds two rows above the selection. If you select only one row, Word adds only one row. This selection is not just a positioning aid—it controls the batch size.
Insert a row in Word for Mac
Word for Mac does not have one universal Command-key shortcut for inserting a row above or below that Microsoft currently documents. Use the table commands instead:
- Click in the target row.
- Open Table Layout.
- Choose Insert Above or Insert Below.
This menu path applies to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2021 for Mac, and Word 2019 for Mac.
Mac keyboard method for adding the final row
To add a row at the bottom, click in the last cell of the last row and press Tab. Word creates a new row, just as it does in the Windows desktop app.
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Mac VoiceOver method
With VoiceOver enabled, put focus inside the table and use this sequence:
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- Move to Layout.
- Press Control+Option+Spacebar.
- Tab to Insert above, button or Insert below, button.
- Press Control+Option+Spacebar to activate it.
Insert a row in Word for the web
If the document is in Reading View, choose Edit Document → Edit in Word for the web first.
- Click inside the table and select Layout under Table Tools.
- Choose Insert Above or Insert Below.
With a Windows keyboard, Microsoft documents this Word for the web sequence:
- Press Alt+Windows logo key+J, then J, T, I to open the Insert menu.
- Press A to insert above.
- Press B, then E to insert below.
Word for the web uses browser-based keyboard handling, so do not assume desktop Word shortcuts will work there. Microsoft also notes that Ctrl+F6, rather than F6, is used to move in and out of commands in the web app. Some keys, including F1 and Ctrl+O, may be handled by the browser.
Which method should you use?
| What you want to do | Best method |
|---|---|
| Add one row above or below on Windows | Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below, or the documented KeyTip sequence |
| Add a row to the bottom | Press Tab in the table’s final cell |
| Add several rows | Select the same number of existing rows, then use Insert Above or Insert Below |
| Add a row on Mac | Table Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below |
| Add a row in Word for the web | Table Tools → Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below |
Why the row commands or shortcut may not work
The Layout tab is missing
Click inside the table. Word hides the contextual Table Design and Layout tabs when the insertion point is outside the table.
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Tab moves to the next cell
This is normal unless the cursor is in the last cell of the last row. Move to the table’s final cell and press Tab again.
Too many rows were inserted
Check your selection before using Insert Above or Insert Below. If three existing rows are selected, Word inserts three rows. Click a single cell or select only one row when you need one new row.
A shortcut found online does not work
Frequently repeated combinations such as Ctrl+Shift++ or Alt+Insert should not be treated as current universal Word shortcuts. Microsoft’s current instructions document the contextual Layout commands, the Windows KeyTip sequences, and Tab in the final cell—not those combinations. Shortcuts can also vary by platform, Word version, keyboard layout, and add-ins.
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Microsoft’s instructions for adding table rows are available for Word desktop, Word for Mac, Word for the web, and screen-reader keyboard instructions.
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What is the shortcut to insert a row above in Word?
In Word for Windows desktop, click in the target row and press Alt, J, L, A. You can also use Layout → Insert Above.
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What is the shortcut to insert a row below in Word?
In Word for Windows desktop, click in the target row and press Alt, J, L, B, E. The ribbon alternative is Layout → Insert Below.
How do I add a row to the bottom of a Word table?
Place the cursor in the last cell of the last row and press Tab. Pressing Tab anywhere else moves between cells instead of adding a row.
Can I insert multiple rows in Word at once?
Yes. Select as many existing rows as you want to add, then choose Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below. Selecting two rows inserts two new rows.
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Microsoft’s current Mac instructions do not document a universal Command-key shortcut for inserting a row above or below. Use Table Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below, or press Tab in the final cell to append a row.
The Bottom Line
For one row, click inside the target row and use Layout → Insert Above or Insert Below. On Windows, the documented keyboard sequences are Alt, J, L, A for above and Alt, J, L, B, E for below. To extend the table at its bottom, place the cursor in the final cell and press Tab.
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