[Excel Shortcut] Merge Selected Cells (Windows & Mac)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Mastering Excel shortcuts can significantly boost your productivity and efficiency when working with spreadsheets. One such shortcut is the ability to merge selected cells, a feature that is often used to combine two or more cells into one larger cell. This can be particularly useful when you want to center a title over a particular section of your spreadsheet or when you want to combine data from multiple cells into one. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to merge selected cells in Excel on both Windows and Mac platforms.

Understanding Cell Merging in Excel

Merging cells in Excel is a common task that can help you organize and present your data more effectively. When you merge cells, Excel combines them into a single cell that spans multiple columns or rows. This can be particularly useful when you’re creating headers or labels that span multiple columns or rows.

However, it’s important to note that when you merge cells, only the content of the upper-left cell will be kept. The content of the other cells will be discarded. Therefore, before you merge cells, make sure you don’t need the data in the other cells or have already moved it to another location.

Why Merge Cells?

Merging cells can be useful in a variety of scenarios. For instance, you might want to merge cells to create a header that spans multiple columns, making your spreadsheet easier to read and understand. Merging cells can also be useful when you want to center a piece of text over multiple columns or rows.

Another common use case for merging cells is when you want to combine data from multiple cells into one. For example, if you have a spreadsheet with separate columns for first and last names, you might want to merge these two columns into one to make your data more concise.

Merging Cells in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what cell merging is and why you might want to use it, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of how to merge cells in Excel. We’ll cover both Windows and Mac platforms.

Please note that the steps may vary slightly depending on the version of Excel you’re using, but the general process should be the same.

Merging Cells in Excel on Windows

Here’s how to merge cells in Excel on a Windows platform:

  1. Select the cells that you want to merge. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the cells.
  2. Go to the ‘Home’ tab in the ribbon at the top of Excel.
  3. In the ‘Alignment’ group, click on ‘Merge & Center’.
  4. In the dropdown menu, select the type of merge you want to perform. You can choose to simply merge the cells, merge and center the content, or merge across.
  5. Click ‘OK’ to merge the cells.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully merged cells in Excel on Windows.

Merging Cells in Excel on Mac

The process for merging cells in Excel on a Mac is very similar to the process on Windows. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Select the cells that you want to merge.
  2. Go to the ‘Format’ menu at the top of the screen.
  3. Select ‘Cells’ and then ‘Merge Cells’.
  4. In the dropdown menu, select the type of merge you want to perform.
  5. Click ‘OK’ to merge the cells.

And just like that, you’ve merged cells in Excel on a Mac.

Unmerging Cells in Excel

Just as you can merge cells in Excel, you can also unmerge them. This can be useful if you’ve merged cells and then later decide that you want them to be separate again. Here’s how to unmerge cells in Excel on both Windows and Mac platforms.

Unmerging Cells in Excel on Windows

Here’s how to unmerge cells in Excel on a Windows platform:

  1. Select the merged cell that you want to unmerge.
  2. Go to the ‘Home’ tab in the ribbon at the top of Excel.
  3. In the ‘Alignment’ group, click on ‘Merge & Center’.
  4. In the dropdown menu, select ‘Unmerge Cells’.
  5. Click ‘OK’ to unmerge the cells.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully unmerged cells in Excel on Windows.

Unmerging Cells in Excel on Mac

The process for unmerging cells in Excel on a Mac is very similar to the process on Windows. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Select the merged cell that you want to unmerge.
  2. Go to the ‘Format’ menu at the top of the screen.
  3. Select ‘Cells’ and then ‘Merge Cells’.
  4. In the dropdown menu, select ‘Unmerge Cells’.
  5. Click ‘OK’ to unmerge the cells.

And just like that, you’ve unmerged cells in Excel on a Mac.

Conclusion

Merging cells in Excel is a simple but powerful tool that can help you better organize and present your data. Whether you’re creating headers that span multiple columns, centering text over multiple cells, or combining data from multiple cells into one, knowing how to merge and unmerge cells in Excel can be a real time-saver.

Remember, the steps to merge and unmerge cells may vary slightly depending on the version of Excel you’re using and whether you’re on a Windows or Mac platform. But with this guide, you should have a good foundation to start from.

So the next time you’re working with a spreadsheet and need to merge or unmerge cells, don’t forget these handy shortcuts. They can make your work in Excel much easier and more efficient.