Use this Simple Shortcut to Merge Cells in Excel

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Are you tired of manually merging cells in Microsoft Excel? Do you want to save time and increase your productivity while working with spreadsheets? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the Excel shortcut for merging cells, making your life easier and your work more efficient. By mastering this simple yet powerful shortcut, you’ll be able to combine multiple cells into one with just a few keystrokes.

Understanding the Merge Cells Feature in Excel

Before we dive into the shortcut itself, let’s take a moment to understand what merging cells in Excel actually means. Merging cells is the process of combining two or more adjacent cells into a single cell, allowing you to center text across multiple columns or create headers that span across the entire width of your table. This feature is particularly useful when you want to create a cleaner and more organized layout for your spreadsheet.

Merging cells can be used in various scenarios, such as:

• Creating a title or header that spans multiple columns
• Combining cells to create a more visually appealing layout
• Centering text across multiple cells for better readability
• Simplifying data entry by merging cells with the same value

The Excel Shortcut for Merging Cells (Windows)

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter: the Excel shortcut for merging cells on Windows. To merge cells using a keyboard shortcut, follow these simple steps:

1. Select the cells you want to merge.
2. Press and hold the Alt key.
3. While holding the Alt key, press the H key, followed by the M key, and then the C key.
4. Release all the keys.

That’s it! Your selected cells will now be merged into a single cell. This shortcut works in all versions of Microsoft Excel for Windows, including Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365.

The Excel Shortcut Method for Merging Cells on Mac

Unfortunately, there isn’t a built-in keyboard shortcut to merge cells in Excel for Mac. However, you can achieve this in two ways:

1. Using the Ribbon:
   • Select the cells you want to merge.
   • Go to the Home tab.
   • In the Alignment group, click on Merge & Center.
2. Assigning a Custom Shortcut:
   • While this method involves a few more steps initially, it can save time in the long run.
   • Go to Excel > Preferences.
   • Click on Keyboard.
   • In the Categories pane, select Home.
   • In the Commands pane, search for “Merge and Center” or “Merge Cells” (depending on your Excel version).
   • Click on the command and then in the Press new shortcut key box, enter your desired shortcut combination (e.g., Option + M).
   • Click Assign and then Close.

Remember: When assigning a custom shortcut, avoid conflicts with existing shortcuts in Excel or your Mac

Unmerging Cells in Excel (Windows)

Sometimes, you may need to unmerge cells that were previously merged. To do this on Windows, simply follow these steps:

1. Select the merged cell you want to unmerge.
2. Press and hold the Alt key.
3. While holding the Alt key, press the H key, followed by the M key, and then the U key.
4. Release all the keys.

Your merged cell will now be split back into individual cells.

Unmerging Cells in Excel on Mac

To unmerge cells on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Select the merged cell you want to unmerge.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Alignment group, click on Merge & Center.
4. Choose Unmerge Cells from the drop-down menu.

Alternatively, if you have assigned a custom shortcut for merging cells, you can use the same shortcut to unmerge cells. Simply select the merged cell and press your custom shortcut combination.

Tips for Using the Merge Cells Feature

While the merge cells shortcut is incredibly useful, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this feature:

1. Be careful when merging cells containing data: If you merge cells that already contain data, only the data in the upper-left cell will be retained. The data in the other cells will be lost. To avoid losing data, make sure to copy the data you want to keep into the upper-left cell before merging.
2. Adjust cell alignment after merging: By default, merged cells have a center alignment. If you prefer a different alignment, you can easily change it using the alignment options in the Home tab. Simply select the merged cell and choose the desired alignment (left, right, or justify) from the alignment options.
3. Use the Center Across Selection option: If you want to center text across multiple cells without actually merging them, you can use the “Center Across Selection” option. This allows you to visually merge cells while still maintaining individual cell references. To use this option, select the cells you want to center across, click on the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Alignment group in the Home tab, and choose “Center Across Selection” from the drop-down menu.
4. Merged cells can affect formulas: When you merge cells, it’s important to keep in mind that it can affect any formulas that reference the individual cells within the merged range. If you have formulas that rely on the values in the individual cells, you may need to adjust those formulas after merging to ensure they still work correctly.
5. Merged cells can impact data sorting and filtering: If you have merged cells in a range of data that you want to sort or filter, it can cause issues. Excel may not be able to properly sort or filter the data due to the merged cells. To avoid this problem, it’s best to unmerge any cells before sorting or filtering your data.

Alternatives to Merging Cells

While merging cells can be a useful tool for formatting your spreadsheet, there are some alternatives that you may want to consider:

1. Using the Center Across Selection option: As mentioned earlier, the “Center Across Selection” option allows you to visually merge cells without actually combining them. This can be a good choice if you want to maintain individual cell references for formulas or data manipulation.
2. Adjusting column widths: Instead of merging cells to create a wider cell, you can simply adjust the width of the columns to accommodate longer text. This allows you to keep your data in individual cells while still achieving the desired visual effect.
3. Using text wrapping: If you have long text that you want to fit into a single cell, you can use the text wrapping feature instead of merging cells. This will allow the text to wrap within the cell, creating a cleaner look without sacrificing individual cell references.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the Excel shortcut for merging cells is a game-changer for anyone who works with spreadsheets regularly. By using this simple shortcut, you can save time, increase your productivity, and create more visually appealing layouts for your data. Remember to keep in mind the tips we discussed, such as being careful when merging cells with existing data and adjusting cell alignment as needed.

Whether you’re using Excel on Windows or Mac, the merge cells shortcut is a valuable tool to have in your arsenal. By following the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you’ll be able to merge and unmerge cells with ease, allowing you to focus on what really matters – your data.

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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.