Predictive text in Excel: how Lightkey works in your cells and comments
Updated: 15 hours ago
Yes, Lightkey works in Microsoft Excel. When you type text into a cell or a comment, Lightkey predicts your next words in grey right where you're typing. Press Tab to accept, or keep typing. It also suggests spelling corrections as you go.
How it works
Install the Lightkey desktop app and open Excel. Predictions appear as you type text in cells and comments.
Lightkey works in the Excel desktop app on Windows. In Excel on the web, use the Lightkey extension for Chrome or Edge; it works together with the desktop app.
What it helps you write in Excel
Spreadsheets carry a lot of repeated text: descriptions, status notes, category names and comments. Lightkey learns the ones you use, for example:
“Pending approval from finance”
“Invoice sent, awaiting payment”
“Updated with Q3 actuals”
“See note in column F”
Excel's AutoComplete only repeats entries from the same column. Lightkey predicts your own phrases wherever you type them.
Private by design
Lightkey's prediction engine runs on your own computer. What you type isn't sent to a cloud service to get a prediction, and Lightkey keeps working offline. That matters for financial and business data.
Get started
Download Lightkey and start your free 30-day trial.
Install the Lightkey extension for Chrome or Edge if you also work in the browser.
Open Slack and start typing. Press Tab to accept a prediction.
Lightkey works in more than 80 languages and in virtually every app on your Windows PC. See all supported apps.
Also read: predictive text in Outlook and Google Sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lightkey work in Excel?
Yes. Lightkey works in the Excel desktop app on Windows, and in Excel on the web through the Chrome or Edge extension.
How is Lightkey different from Excel's AutoComplete?
Excel's AutoComplete only repeats entries already in the same column. Lightkey predicts your own phrases as you type, in any cell or comment.
Does Lightkey work in Google Sheets?
Yes, through the Lightkey extension for Chrome or Edge, which works together with the Lightkey desktop app.
Does Lightkey send my spreadsheet data to the cloud?
No. Lightkey's prediction engine runs on your computer and works offline.
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