Clearing all formatting in Excel can be a real headache if you don’t know where to start. But fear not! It’s quite a simple process once you get the hang of it. Basically, you want to select the cells you want to clear, go to the ‘Home’ tab, and click on the ‘Clear’ button. Then, choose ‘Clear Formats’, and voila! Your cells will be free of any previous formatting, returning to their default state.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to Clear All Formatting in Excel
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. By the end of these steps, all the selected cells in your Excel worksheet will be stripped of any formatting. This includes fonts, colors, text alignments, number formats, and cell fill colors. It’s like giving your spreadsheet a fresh start.
Step 1: Open your Excel document
Open the Excel document that contains the formatting you want to clear.
In this step, you’re preparing to make changes to your document. Make sure you have saved any important information before proceeding.
Step 2: Select the cells with formatting
Click and drag your mouse over the cells whose formatting you want to clear.
When selecting cells, you can click on a single cell to select it, or click and drag to select multiple cells. You can also hold the ‘Ctrl’ key and click on non-adjacent cells to select them.
Step 3: Go to the ‘Home’ tab
Navigate to the ‘Home’ tab on the Excel ribbon.
The ‘Home’ tab is where you’ll find most of the basic functions and features in Excel. This includes the ‘Clear’ options that we need.
Step 4: Click on ‘Clear’
In the ‘Editing’ group, click on the ‘Clear’ button.
The ‘Clear’ button is often overlooked but it’s quite powerful. It gives you several options to clear contents, formats, comments, or all of the above.
Step 5: Choose ‘Clear Formats’
From the drop-down menu, select ‘Clear Formats’.
By selecting ‘Clear Formats’, you are instructing Excel to remove only the formatting from the selected cells, not the contents or comments.
After these steps, your selected cells should now be free of any formatting. They will revert to the default Excel formatting, which usually includes the Calibri font, no background color, and standard number formatting.
Tips: How to Clear All Formatting in Excel
- Always save a copy of your document before clearing formats, just in case you need to revert back.
- You can use the keyboard shortcut ‘Alt + H + E + F’ to quickly clear formats.
- If you want to clear everything, including cell contents and comments, you can choose ‘Clear All’ instead.
- Use the ‘Format Painter’ tool to copy formatting from one cell to another easily.
- Remember that clearing formatting does not affect the actual data or formulas in your cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does clearing formats do to my data?
Clearing formats will not alter your data; it simply resets the visual appearance of your cells.
Can I undo clearing formats in Excel?
Yes, like most actions in Excel, you can undo clearing formats by pressing ‘Ctrl + Z’ or clicking the ‘Undo’ button.
How do I clear formats from the entire worksheet?
To clear formats from the entire worksheet, click on the corner button to select all cells, and then follow the same steps to clear formats.
Is there a way to clear formats from multiple sheets at once?
No, Excel does not support clearing formats from multiple sheets simultaneously. You must repeat the process for each sheet.
Will clearing formats affect my cell borders?
Yes, clearing formats will also remove any cell borders you’ve applied.
Summary
- Open your Excel document.
- Select the cells with formatting.
- Go to the ‘Home’ tab.
- Click on ‘Clear’.
- Choose ‘Clear Formats’.
Conclusion
Clearing all formatting in Excel is like giving your spreadsheet a clean slate. It’s an essential skill for anyone who frequently works with Excel, whether you’re a student, an office worker, or just someone who likes to keep their finances in check. With the simple steps outlined above, you can quickly remove any unwanted formatting and start afresh. And if you’re ever in doubt, the tips and frequently asked questions should cover any additional concerns you might have.
As you get more familiar with Excel and its many features, you’ll find that knowing how to clear all formatting becomes second nature. So go ahead, give it a try, and see the difference it makes in your worksheets. Happy formatting (or un-formatting, in this case)!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.