How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets – In Rows and Columns
You can merge cells in Google Sheets by selecting the cells you want to merge, clicking “Format” on the toolbar at the top and hovering over “Merge cells.” On the right, you’ll have one or more options for how to merge them – horizontally, vertically, or both ways (“Merge all”).
When you merge two or more cells, the resulting cell will be the same size as the original selection. The content of the single cell will be the top-left cell from the selection. All other cells will be deleted – but don’t worry, a pop-up will warn you about that if you select cells with content in them.
How to Merge Cells in Multiple Rows at Once
The “Merge horizontally” option is handy if you want to know how to merge cells in Google Sheets across multiple rows. For example, let’s say you want to turn the first 4 rows of your spreadsheet into lines of text. You can do that by selecting the 4 rows, clicking “Format” and choosing “Merge horizontally.” As a result, the rows won’t be divided into columns anymore.
How to Merge Cells in Multiple Columns at Once
This time, you’ll want to use the “Merge vertically” option. Select your columns, merge them, and they won’t have visible rows anymore. The cells will become long columns instead.
How to Make a Rectangular Field Out of Multiple Cells
You can also merge cells both ways. That will result in just one cell that’s as wide as the selection was and as tall. To do this, use the “Merge all” option. It can be useful if you want to, for example, create a field for comments next to a list of data.
How to Unmerge Cells in Google Sheets
Now you know how to merge cells in Google Sheets. But how to reverse it if it doesn’t turn out the way you wanted? To unmerge cells, simply select the merged cell and click “Format” -> “Merge cells” -> “Unmerge.” The cells will go back to their previous state – being divided into rows and columns.
Is There a Keyboard Shortcut for Merging and Unmerging Cells?
To quickly merge cells, you can select them and press Left Alt + O. This will open the “Format” menu, from which you can select “Merge cells” by pressing M. You’ll still need to select the type of merge you want, though.
- Pressing H will merge them horizontally.
- Pressing V will merge them vertically.
- Pressing A will merge all cells within the selection.
- Pressing U will unmerge cells.
So, if you wanted to merge your cells horizontally, you could press Left Alt + O, M, H. It takes three steps, but it’s still quicker than using the mouse.
How to Merge Cells Without Losing Data – The “Merge Values” Add-On
Google Sheets won’t let you merge cells and keep the data from all of them. But there’s a workaround – you can use an add-on called “Merge Values.” It will copy the data from all the selected cells and enter the combined information into an empty cell adjacent to them. You can then merge the original cells and copy that data into the merged cell.
To use this add-on, go to “Extensions” -> “Add-ons” -> “Get add-ons.” In the search bar, type in “Merge Values” and press Enter. The first result should be the add-on you need – click on it and then select “Install.”
Once it’s installed, go to “Add-ons” again and hover over “Merge Values.” You’ll see two options – “Start” and “Options.” Choose “Start,” and a box will appear where you can set your preferences for merging cells. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for the add-on if you use it a lot – it’s only a free trial when you first install it.
Merging Cells in Google Sheets FAQ
Do you still have unanswered questions about how to merge cells in Google Sheets? Check out our FAQ section below.
Q: How do I merge two rows in Google Sheets?
A: To merge two rows in Google Sheets into one wider row, use the “Merge vertically” option. First, select the two rows you want to merge. Then, go to “Format” -> “Merge cells.” In the drop-down menu that appears, select “Merge vertically.”
Q: How do I merge two columns in Google Sheets?
A: To merge two columns into one wider column, use the “Merge horizontally” option.
Q: Will the formatting of merged cells stay the same?
A: No. If you have cells with different colors, for example, they’ll all turn the same color after you merge them – the color of the upper left cell. The same goes for cell borders, fonts, and other formatting.
Q: Can I merge cells that are already merged?
A: Yes, you can merge already merged cells. Just select them and use the “Merge all” option.
Now you know how to merge cells in Google Sheets. Whether you want to do it the easy way or the hard way, there’s an option for you. And if you need to merge cells without losing data, there’s an add-on that can help you with that. So go ahead and give it a try!
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