Clear formatting shortcut in Excel
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Clear the cell contents (keeps formatting)Removes values and formulas only. Formats, notes and comments stay. | Delete | Delete |
| Open Format Cells How to: Merge cells shortcut in Excel Every number, date, alignment, border and protection option in one dialog. | Ctrl+1 | Command+1 or Control+1 |
| General number format How to: Number format shortcuts in Excel: currency, percent, date and more | Ctrl+Shift+~ | Control+Shift+~ |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
What each Clear option removes
- Clear Formats: fonts, fills, borders and number formats. Dates turn into numbers like 46331, because the date format goes too.
- Clear Contents (Delete): values and formulas. Formats, notes and comments stay.
- Clear All: everything, as if the cells were new.
- Clear Comments and Notes, and Clear Hyperlinks, remove just those.
Remove only conditional formatting
To take off the rules but keep fonts, fills and number formats, use Home > Conditional Formatting > Clear Rules > Clear Rules from Selected Cells (or from the entire sheet).
Copy a clean format instead
To make cells look like a plain cell elsewhere, copy the plain cell, then Paste Special formats only: Ctrl+Alt+V, T, Enter on Windows. To reset only number formats, press Ctrl+Shift+~ for General.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
KeyTips change with the language
Alt sequences such as Alt+H, O, I are ribbon KeyTips: press Alt and the letters appear on screen. They come from the English ribbon. In another language, or when an add-in adds a tab, the letters can differ, so read them off the screen rather than memorizing them.
Related shortcuts
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Paste Special: formatting only | T | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Show the KeyTips (letters on every tab and button)Press and release, then type the letters that appear. Excel for the web on a Mac: Microsoft says to press Control+Option to start. | Alt or F10Web Alt+Windows key | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
FAQ
What is the shortcut to clear formatting in Excel?
Alt, H, E, F on Windows (Home > Clear > Clear Formats). Excel has no Ctrl shortcut for it.
Why did my dates turn into numbers?
Clear Formats removed the date format. Press Ctrl+Shift+# to format them as dates again.
How do I clear everything in a cell?
Alt, H, E, A on Windows clears contents, formats, notes and comments together.
Related guides
- Excel date format not changing? Why, and how to fix itA number format only changes how a number looks, and real Excel dates are numbers.
- Conditional formatting formula not working: how to fix itCopy the rule formula into a spare cell on the first row of the Applies to range and check that it returns TRUE where you expect color.
In the glossary: Number formatConditional formatting