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How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets in One Click

February 20, 2024 2.3K views

Elevate your Google Sheets game with a single click! Discover the simplicity of wrapping text effortlessly. Streamline your data presentation and transform your spreadsheets with ease.

Part 1. How to wrap text in google sheets (the easiest way)

Google Sheets logo.

Method 1: Using the "Text wrapping" feature

This is the most common and easiest way to wrap text in Google Sheets. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Select the cells containing the text you want to wrap.

Click and drag your mouse across the cells you want to format.

Step 2: Go to the "Format" menu.

Select Format tab.

You can find the "Format" menu in the toolbar at the top of the Google Sheets window.

Step 3: Select "Text wrapping".

Choose Wrapping.

A submenu will appear with different text wrapping options.

Step 4: Choose the desired wrapping option.

You can choose from "Wrap", "Clip", or "Overflow".

Select option of wrapping

  • Wrap: This is the most common option, and it will automatically adjust the text to fit within the width of the cell.

  • Clip: This option will hide any text that overflows the cell.

  • Overflow: This option will allow the text to overflow into adjacent cells.

Tips:

  • You can also adjust the width of the column to wrap the text. To do this, hover your mouse over the line between the column headers and drag it to the desired width.

  • If you don't want the text to overflow into adjacent cells, you can use the "Clip" option instead of the "Wrap" option.

Method 2: Using the Wrap Text toolbar icon

This method is a bit quicker than using the "Format" menu, but it's not as versatile. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Select the cells containing the text you want to wrap.

Click and drag your mouse across the cells you want to format.

Step 2: Click on the "Wrap Text" icon in the toolbar.

The "Wrap Text" icon is the one that looks like a curved arrow. It's usually located in the toolbar near the bottom of the Google Sheets window.

Select Wrap Text icon

Step 3: Choose the desired wrapping option.

A small menu will appear with the same options as in the "Format" menu: "Wrap", "Clip", and "Overflow".

Step 4: Choose the desired wrapping option.

Select the option that you want to use.

Tips:

  • This method is a bit quicker than using the "Format" menu, but it doesn't give you as many options.

  • You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Enter (Cmd + Option + Enter on Mac) to wrap text in the selected cells.

Additional tips for wrapping text in Google Sheets:

  • You can wrap text in a single cell, in multiple cells, or in an entire column.

  • If you want to wrap text in multiple cells, you can select the cells and then use either of the methods described above.

  • If you want to wrap text in an entire column, you can click on the column header and then use either of the methods described above.

  • You can also use the "Find and replace" feature to automatically wrap text that meets certain criteria. For example, you could find all text that is longer than a certain number of characters and then wrap it automatically.

Part 2: How to unwrap the text in google sheets 

Here's how to unwrap text in Google Sheets using the "Overflow" option:

Step 1: Select the cells you want to unwrap:

  • Click and drag your mouse to highlight the cells containing the wrapped text you want to unwrap.

Step 2: Access the "Text wrapping" menu:

  • You have two ways to do this:

  • From the Format menu:

  • Click on "Format" in the top toolbar.

  • Select "Text wrapping" from the dropdown menu.

Select Wrapping from Format tool.

  • From the Wrap Text icon:

  • Click on the "Wrap Text" icon in the toolbar, which resembles a curved arrow.

Step 3: Choose "Overflow":

  • In the "Text wrapping" menu, select the "Overflow" option. This will make the text extend beyond the cell boundaries and appear on a single line, even if it extends into adjacent cells.

Select Overflow

Step 4: Confirm the change:

  • The text in the selected cells will now unwrap and appear on a single line within each cell. You may need to adjust column widths to accommodate the longer text if it extends beyond the visible area.

Additional tips:

  • To quickly unwrap text in multiple cells, select all the cells you want to modify and then apply the "Overflow" option.

  • If you prefer a keyboard shortcut, use Ctrl + Alt + O (Cmd + Option + O on Mac) to toggle between "Wrap" and "Overflow" options.

  • Remember that "Overflow" is the default text wrapping setting in Google Sheets, so if you've previously wrapped text using the "Wrap" option, selecting "Overflow" will revert it back to its original unwrapped state.

Part 3: How to clip the text in google sheets 

Here's how to clip text in Google Sheets using the "Clip" option:

Step 1: Select the cells you want to clip:

  • Use your mouse to highlight the cells containing the text you want to clip.

Step 2: Access the "Text wrapping" menu:

  • You have two ways to do this:

  • From the Format menu:

  • Click on "Format" in the top toolbar.

  • Select "Text wrapping" from the dropdown menu.

Select Wrapping from Format toolbar.

  • From the Wrap Text icon:

  • Click on the "Wrap Text" icon in the toolbar, which resembles a curved arrow.

Select Wrap Text icon.

Step 3: Choose "Clip":

  • In the "Text wrapping" menu, select the "Clip" option. This will cut off any text that extends beyond the cell's width, hiding the overflow.

Select Clip option from Text Wrapping.

Step 4: Confirm the change:

  • The text in the selected cells will now be clipped, and only the portion that fits within the cell boundaries will be visible.

Key differences between "Clip," "Overflow," and "Wrap" options:

  • Wrap: Adjusts text to fit within the cell by wrapping it onto multiple lines, increasing row height as needed.

  • Overflow: Allows text to extend beyond the cell boundaries and into adjacent cells, maintaining a single line of text.

  • Clip: Hides any text that extends beyond the cell's width, preventing overflow and displaying only the visible portion within the cell.

Additional tips:

  • To quickly clip text in multiple cells, select all the cells you want to modify and then apply the "Clip" option.

  • To revert back to wrapped or overflowing text, simply select the desired option from the "Text wrapping" menu.

  • Use "Clip" when you want to maintain a clean, uncluttered appearance in your spreadsheet and prevent text from overlapping into adjacent cells.

Part 4: Best Assistant for Google sheets:WPS Office 

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FAQs

  • How to wrap texts in excel?

Wrap text in Excel, two ways:

1. Button: Select cells, then click the "Wrap Text" button on the Home tab (icon with lines wrapping a square).

2. Shortcut: Double-click the cell, place your cursor where you want the line break, and press Alt+Enter. Repeat for more breaks.

Tips: Wrap multiple cells at once by selecting them first. Double-click row header to adjust height for wrapped text. Unwrap by clicking the button again (or deleting manual breaks).

  • What is the shortcut for wrapping text in google sheets?

Here's the shortcut for wrapping text in Google Sheets:

Windows: Ctrl + Alt + Enter Mac: Command + Option + Enter

Step 1: Select the cells you want to wrap.

Step 2: Press the shortcut keys.

  • Why users want to wrap texts in google sheets?

Three key reasons users wrap text in Google Sheets:

  1. Readability: Wrapped text keeps things neat and scannable, avoiding messy overflow into other cells.

  2. Navigation: No more wrestling with overlapping text; wrapping ensures clear access to all data.

  3. Professionalism: Wrapped spreadsheets look polished and organized, making a positive impression.

Summary

Discover the simplicity of wrapping text in Google Sheets with our one-click guide. Learn versatile methods, including the Wrap Text toolbar icon and text wrapping feature. Unwrap or clip text effortlessly for a clean appearance. Explore WPS Office for a powerful Google Sheets ally, offering templates, formulas, and seamless collaboration, revolutionizing your productivity instantly.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.