Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 23, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
If you have been using Excel for any length of time, you probably already know how to enter information into cells and later change that information. If you are new to Excel, however, editing information quickly and efficiently can take a while to master. Fortunately, Excel allows you to quickly and easily edit information you previously entered into a cell.
There are three ways you can edit the information, once you select the cell you want to edit. The first is to just begin typing. If you do this, the information you type replaces the current contents of the cell.
The second way to edit a cell is to use the mouse to point to the contents of the cell on the formula bar. As you move the mouse pointer over the cell information, notice that it changes to an I-beam. Position the I-beam where you want to make an edit and then click the mouse button. The cursor appears at that point within the cell contents, and you can begin editing. Whatever you type is added to the line (you can also drag the I-beam across several characters with the mouse; then what you type replaces the selected text). You can also use the cursor-control keys, as follows:
Key | Alone | With Ctrl Key | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home | Start of line | Start of cell | ||
End | End of line | End of cell | ||
Left Arrow | Left one character | Left one word | ||
Right Arrow | Right one character | Right one word | ||
Up Arrow | Up one line | Up one line | ||
Down Arrow | Down one line | Down one line |
As with many word processors, you can also use the Shift key with the cursor-control keys. This will result in selecting adjacent characters within the cell contents. If you then release the Shift key and type any other information, what you type replaces the selected characters. When you have finished editing the contents of the cell, press Enter.
The final method of editing information is to do it directly within the cell. This is done by either using the mouse to double-click on the cell you want to edit, or by selecting the cell and pressing the F2 key. When you do this, the full contents of the cell appear right in the middle of your worksheet, and you can edit those contents.
When you are editing cells in this manner, all the editing keys function as described earlier. The only difference is where the editing occurs, not how it occurs.
Notice, as well, that if you use cell or range references in a formula that is being edited in the cell, the cells reference in the formula are highlighted in blue in the worksheet. This makes it easy for you to locate references within your worksheet.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12003) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Editing Individual Cells.
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2022-08-10 10:01:42
J. Woolley
@Roger Stone
Re. the Fn key, see https://www.howtogeek.com/235351/how-to-choose-whether-your-function-keys-are-f1-f12-keys-or-special-keys/
2022-07-25 13:47:51
Mike
Another functionality for editing contents of a cell is when you have a formula in a cell, when in edit mode, as described in the article, cell references are highlighted. Those highlighted cells can be moved and/or expanded by clicking and dragging the cell or the cell handle, adjusting the formula references.
2022-07-23 11:03:30
J. Woolley
As explained in the following two Tips, action of the F2 key is governed by Excel's "Allow editing directly in cells" option:
https://excelribbon.tips.net/T006174_Activating_the_Formula_Bar_with_the_Keyboard.html
https://excelribbon.tips.net/T012051_Mouse_Scroll_Wheel_Doesnt_Work_when_Editing_Formulas.html
My Excel Toolbox includes the ToggleEditInCell macro to enable or disable that feature. Here is an abbreviated version of the VBA:
Sub ToggleEditInCell()
With Application
.EditDirectlyInCell = (Not .EditDirectlyInCell)
End With
End Sub
See https://sites.google.com/view/MyExcelToolbox/
2022-07-23 10:37:03
J. Woolley
@Roger Stone
Use of the Fn key is configured in your computer, not in Excel. Read your computer's user manual.
2022-07-23 05:50:04
Roger Stone
Allen, when I click a cell and press F2, it pops up the volume control and reduces it. The F2 and F3 keys in their speaker volume function seem to override the Excel function, even when the Excel sheet is live and I have clicked a cell. I have to press the Fn key +F2 to get into edit mode. Do we know how to reverse this priority?
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