Edit cell contents

You can edit the contents of a cell directly in the cell. You can also edit the contents of a cell in the formula bar .

Note When you are in editing mode, many Ribbon commands will be inactive, and you will not be able to use them.

1. To place the contents of a cell in editing mode, do one of the following:
   • Double-click the cell that contains the data that you want to edit.
   • Click the cell that contains the data that you want to edit, and then click anywhere in the formula bar.

     This positions the insertion point in the cell or formula bar.

   Tip To move the insertion point to the end of the cell contents, click the cell and press F2.

2. To edit the cell contents, do any one of the following:
   • To delete characters, click where you want to delete them, and then press BACKSPACE, or select them, and then press DELETE.
   • To insert characters, click where you want to insert them, and then type the new characters.
   • To replace specific characters, select them, and then type the new characters.
   • To turn on Overtype mode so that existing characters are replaced by new characters while you type, press INSERT.

     Note Overtype mode can be turned on or off only when you are in editing mode. When Overtype mode is turned on, the character to the right of the insertion point is highlighted in the formula bar, and it will be overwritten when you type.

   • To start a new line of text at a specific point in a cell, click where you want to break the line, and then press ALT+ENTER.
3. To enter your changes, press ENTER.

   Tip Before you press ENTER, you can cancel any changes that you made by pressing ESC. After you press ENTER, you can cancel any changes that you made by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Notes:

• A cell may display ##### when it contains data that has a number format and that is wider than the column width. To see all text, you must increase the width of the column.

  How to change the column width

  1. Click the cell for which you want to change the column width.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format.

     

  3. Under Cell Size, do one of the following:
     • To fit all text in the cell, click AutoFit Column Width.
     • To specify a larger column width, click Column Width, and then type the width that you want in the Column width box.
• You can display multiple lines of text inside a cell by wrapping the text.

  How to wrap text in a cell

  1. Click the cell in which you want to wrap the text.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Alignment group, click Wrap Text.

     

     Note If the text is a single long word, the characters won't wrap; you can widen the column or decrease the font size to see all the text. If not all text is visible after you wrap the text, you may need to adjust the height of the row. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, and then under Cell Size click AutoFit Row.

See also:

• Change the column width and row height
• Enter data manually in worksheet cells
• Fill data automatically in worksheet cells
• Merge cells or split merged cells
• Move or copy cells and cell contents
• Select cells and their contents on a worksheet