How to start a new line in an Excel cell
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start a new line inside the cellExcel turns on Wrap Text for the cell so the second line shows. | Alt+Enter | Option+Return or Control+Option+Return or Command+Option+Return |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
Add a break inside existing text
Press F2 to edit the cell (or double-click it), move the cursor with the arrow keys to where the break should go, and press Alt+Enter. Then Enter to finish.
Line breaks in formulas
A shortcut only works for typed text. To build a break into a formula result, join the parts with CHAR(10), for example =A2&CHAR(10)&B2, and turn on Wrap Text for the cell. The guide on joining text with a line break covers TEXTJOIN too.
When the break does not show
- Wrap Text is off. Excel turns it on when you press the shortcut, but pasted or formula text needs Home > Wrap Text.
- The row is too short. Double-click the row border to autofit its height.
- On a Mac, if Option+Return does nothing, try Control+Option+Return; both are in Microsoft's list.
- Enter moved to the next cell: you pressed Enter without Alt. Go back with Shift+Enter and edit with F2.
Remove line breaks
Use Find and Replace: press Ctrl+H, click in Find what and press Ctrl+J, which types an invisible line break, leave Replace with empty or a space, and Replace All. Or use =SUBSTITUTE(A2,CHAR(10)," "). The guide on removing line breaks has both.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
You are still editing a cell
While a cell is in edit mode, most commands are greyed out and many shortcuts type into the cell instead. Press Enter to finish the entry or Esc to cancel it, then try again.
Related shortcuts
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Edit the active cell How to: Absolute reference shortcut in Excel (F4 and Cmd+T) The cursor goes to the end of the contents. While you edit a formula, F2 switches arrow keys between moving the cursor and pointing at cells. | F2 | F2 or Control+U |
| Confirm the entry and move downInside a selected range, Enter moves down through the selection without leaving it. | Enter | Return |
| Put the same entry in every selected cell How to: Fill down shortcut in Excel Select the cells, type once, then press it. A formula goes in with its references adjusted for each cell. | Ctrl+Enter | Command+Return or Control+Return |
FAQ
How do I go to a new line in an Excel cell?
Alt+Enter on Windows and in Excel for the web, Option+Return on a Mac.
How do I add a new line in a cell on a Mac?
Press Option+Return. Microsoft also lists Ctrl+Option+Return and Cmd+Option+Return for Excel for Mac.
Why does my line break disappear?
Wrap Text is off, or the row is too short to show the second line. Turn on Wrap Text and autofit the row.
Related guides
- Combine cells with a line break in ExcelJoin the cells with CHAR(10), Excel's line break character: =A2&CHAR(10)&B2&CHAR(10)&C2.
- How to remove line breaks in Excel cellsUse =SUBSTITUTE(B2,CHAR(10),", ") to swap each line break for a comma and space, or wrap it in TRIM with a space instead: =TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(B2,CHAR(10)," ")).
Related functions
In the glossary: Line break in a cellWrap Text
All editing cells shortcutsAll Excel shortcutsPrintable sheet