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Excel new line in a cell: Alt + Enter
Break the text into two lines inside the same cell.
With voice: turn the sound on to hear how it works. Recorded in Excel for the web; the shortcut works the same in desktop Excel.
What it does
While you type in a cell, Enter moves you to the next cell. Alt + Enter inserts a line break instead, so the text continues on a new line in the same cell. Excel turns on Wrap Text for the cell automatically.
When to use it
Use it for addresses, notes, short lists and long headers that would otherwise make a column very wide. One cell can hold several lines and the row grows to fit them.
How to do it
- Type the first line of text in the cell.
- Press Alt + Enter (on a Mac: Control + Option + Return).
- Type the next line, then press Enter to finish.
A quick example
Type '12 Baker Street' in a cell, press Alt + Enter, and then type 'London'. The cell now holds two lines and the row grows to fit them. It is perfect for keeping a whole address in one column instead of three.
Alt + Enter, Wrap Text and CHAR(10)
Alt + Enter puts a real line break into the text, and Excel turns on Wrap Text so you can see it. Wrap Text alone only wraps long text at the cell edge and does not create a break where you want one. In a formula you create the same break with CHAR(10), for example =A2&CHAR(10)&B2, and Wrap Text must be on to show it.
Not working? Check this
- Enter moves you to the next cell: you have to be in edit mode (typing in the cell) when you press Alt + Enter.
- The break is not visible: turn on Wrap Text on the Home tab or make the row taller.
- On a Mac use Control + Option + Return. In remote desktop or Citrix sessions the keys can be captured by the other computer; try the formula with CHAR(10) instead.
Quick answers
How do I start a new line in an Excel cell?
While you type in the cell, press Alt + Enter. The text continues on a new line of the same cell. Press Enter when you are done.
How do I add a line break in an Excel cell on a Mac?
Press Control + Option + Return while you edit the cell. If that does not work in your setup, build the text with a formula and CHAR(10).
How do I remove line breaks from Excel cells?
Select the cells, press Ctrl + H, click in the Find box and press Ctrl + J, put a space in the Replace box and click Replace All. A formula alternative is =SUBSTITUTE(A2,CHAR(10)," ").