How to Remove Dotted Lines in Excel: Easy Guide

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If you’re wondering how to remove dotted lines in Excel, you’re not alone. These lines can appear due to page breaks, gridlines, or borders, making your spreadsheet look cluttered or difficult to read. Fortunately, there are simple ways to get rid of them, whether by adjusting page break settings, disabling gridlines, or removing cell borders.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to eliminate these unwanted dotted lines and keep your Excel sheets clean and professional.

Understanding the Types of Dotted Lines in Excel

Before removing the dotted lines, it’s important to identify their cause. The three main sources of dotted lines in Excel are:

1. Page Break Dotted Lines – Indicate where the page will break during printing.
2. Dotted Borders – Appear when a cell or range has a dashed border.
3. Gridlines – These are the default light gray lines that separate cells.

Each type has a different solution, which we will discuss below in detail.

Removing Page Break Dotted Lines in Excel

Page breaks appear as dotted lines when Page Break Preview is enabled or when you have manually adjusted page breaks. To remove these lines, follow these methods:

Method 1: Disable Page Break Display

1. Click on the File tab.
2. Select Options to open the Excel Options window.
3. In the left panel, click on Advanced.
4. Scroll down to the Display options for this worksheet section.
5. Uncheck the box labeled Show page breaks.
6. Click OK to apply the changes.

Method 2: Switch to Normal View

Another quick way to remove page break dotted lines is by switching back to the Normal View.

1. Click on the View tab.
2. Under the Workbook Views group, select Normal.
3. The dotted page breaks should disappear.

Method 3: Reopen the Workbook

If Excel automatically displays dotted page breaks, simply closing and reopening the workbook can temporarily remove them.

Method 4: Remove Custom Page Breaks

If the page break dotted lines persist, you might have custom page breaks set. Follow these steps to remove them:

1. Click on the Page Layout tab.
2. Click on Breaks in the Page Setup group.
3. Select Reset All Page Breaks.
4. Switch back to Normal View.

This method ensures that all manually inserted page breaks are removed.

Removing Dotted Borders in Excel

If you see dotted lines around cells, they may be cell borders formatted with a dashed style. Follow these steps to remove them:

Method 1: Remove Borders Using the Ribbon

1. Select the cells with the dotted borders.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Font group, click on the Borders drop-down menu.
4. Select No Border.

Method 2: Remove Borders Using Keyboard Shortcut

Use this shortcut to quickly remove cell borders:

• Press Alt + H, B, N (One key at a time)

Method 3: Remove Borders Using Format Cells

1. Select the affected cells.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. Go to the Border tab.
4. Click on None.
5. Click OK.

Method 4: Use Conditional Formatting Rules Manager

Sometimes, conditional formatting can add dashed or dotted borders. To remove them:

1. Click on the Home tab.
2. In the Styles group, select Conditional Formatting.
3. Choose Manage Rules.
4. Delete any rules that apply a border style.
5. Click OK.

This ensures that unwanted formatting does not return automatically.

Removing Gridlines in Excel

Gridlines in Excel are faint lines that separate cells. While they are not technically dotted, users sometimes mistake them for dotted lines.

Method 1: Turn Off Gridlines via Excel Ribbon

1. Click on the View tab.
2. In the Show group, uncheck Gridlines.

Method 2: Change the Gridline Color to White

If you prefer to keep gridlines but make them invisible, change their color:

1. Click on the File tab and select Options.
2. In the Advanced section, scroll down to Display options for this worksheet.
3. Look for the Gridline color option.
4. Change the color to White.
5. Click OK.

Method 3: Apply a Fill Color to Hide Gridlines

1. Select the entire worksheet by clicking the Select All button (triangle in the top-left corner).
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Font group, click on the Fill Color icon.
4. Choose White.

Method 4: Adjust Worksheet Background

If gridlines persist, adding a background color can further hide them:

1. Click the Page Layout tab.
2. Select Background.
3. Choose a light background color to overlay gridlines.

Quick Comparison Table for Removing Dotted Lines in Excel

Additional Tips for Managing Dotted Lines in Excel

• If unsure of the source, toggle each setting one by one (Page Breaks, Borders, and Gridlines) to identify the cause.
• Use keyboard shortcuts for quick access:
  • Alt + W, V, G – Toggle Gridlines
  • Alt + H, B, N – Remove Borders
• When working with printing settings, use Page Layout view instead of Page Break Preview to avoid unnecessary dotted lines.
• If using Excel Macros, check for any VBA scripts that might be adding automatic page breaks or borders.

By following these steps, you can easily remove unwanted dotted lines in Excel and maintain a clean and professional-looking spreadsheet. If the issue persists, double-check your Excel settings, formatting options, and conditional formatting rules to ensure everything is properly adjusted.

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.