How to Wrap Text in Excel? All you need to Know

What is Wrap Text in Excel?

Wrap Text is a feature in Excel that wraps or fits a long string of text within the limits of a single cell. It means the content of a cell is displayed in a single cell and does not overflow in the adjacent cell. The wrap text adjusts the row height and column width to fit the long text within the cell.

Consider the below example to understand how wrap text works:

The image below shows a long text string- Microsoft Excel is used to perform complex calculations in cell B5 overflowing in adjacent cells-. Here, even though it overlaps in the neighboring cells, the whole line is visible.

But, if there is text in the adjacent cell, then the line in B5 gets cut off as shown in the image below.

When you apply the WRAP text feature , Excel automatically resizes the row height and column width to display the whole line in one cell (B5).

How to Wrap Text in Excel?

Download our free Wrap Text in Excel Template here to practice.

 You can wrap text in Excel in the following 4 easy ways:

4 Ways to Wrap Text in Excel:

1. Using Excel Ribbon
2. Using Format Cells option
3. By adjusting row height and column width
4. By adding Line Breaks

1] Wrap Text in Excel using Excel Ribbon

Example No.1

In the below example, we need to fit (wrap) the contents of cell B5 so that the full text is displayed in the cell. To wrap the text using Excel Ribbon follow the below-given steps.

Step 1: Select cell B5

Step 2: Go to the Home tab and click Wrap Text in the Alignment Group as shown in the below image.

The Wrap text feature wraps or displays the complete line Microsoft Excel is used to perform complex calculations in the cell B5 as shown below

Note:

1. Before applying the wrap text feature, if you set the row height or column width to a specific value, the row height or column width will not change when you click the Wrap Text option.

2] Wrap Text in Excel using the Format Cells option

Example No.2

Now we will wrap the text using the Format Cells option. To do this follow the below steps

Step 1: Select the cell containing the long string of text

Step 2: Right-click on the selected cell (B5)

A list of menu appears —> click on the Format Cells option

OR 

Click on the dropdown arrow in the Alignment Group of the Home tab in the Excel ribbon.

This opens up the Format Cells dialog box as shown below

Shortcut: Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.

Now,

Step 3: In the Format Cells dialog box, click Alignment > Wrap Text and click OK.

This wraps up or displays the complete line within single cell B5.

3] Wrap Text in Excel by adjusting Row Height and Column Width

Example No.3

Now, we will wrap the text by Adjusting Row height and Column Width of desired cell. To do this, follow the below steps

Step 1: Place the + (cross) at the edge of desired (column B) as shown in the below image

Step 2: Hold and move the + (cross) towards the right of the worksheet and stop until the whole text is viewable in the cell B5.

Now, the text is wrapped but the column width is also increased

Note: If you try to wrap the text by increasing the row height, the row height will increase but it will not wrap the text.

To solve this problem,

Step 3: Click on the Wrap Text option in the Excel Ribbon and the content in cell B8 is wrapped.

4] Wrap Text in Excel by adding Line Breaks

Example No.4

Here, we will Wrap the cell content by Adding Line Breaks. To do so, follow the below steps

Step 1: Place the cursor at the position where the cell content cuts off (highlighted in yellow)

Now,

Step 2: Press the keys ALT+ ENTER of the keyboard to add line break

The command will break the line into two to display (wrap) the text into the cell B5

Key Features of Wrap Text in Excel

• Wrap Text always displays the first 1,024 characters of a cell content. If you increase the character limit, Excel displays a ** symbol.
• To bring the text in the unwrapped form you need to click on the same Wrap Text option in the Alignment group of the Home tab.
• We can wrap text manually by increasing the column width.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1) What is wrap text in Excel?

Answer: Wrap text is a Microsoft Excel feature that lets you show a long text content within a single cell without overlapping in the adjacent cells. The feature re-sizes the row height and column width to fit the text in one cell.

Q2) Why is my text not wrapping in Excel?

Answer: A common reason that wrap text does not work is when you have set the row height to a certain value. To resolve this issue, Go to Format menu in the Home tab and click on AutoFit Row Height (refer below image) 

Q3) What is the shortcut to unwrap text in Excel?

The shortcut to unwrap text is ALT + H + W.

To use the shortcut, 

Step 1: Select the wrapped cell

Step 2: Press the keys ALT, H, and W together on the keyboard

Result: The text will be unwrapped i.e it will be displayed in the original form.

Q4) Where is wrap text in Excel?

Answer: To find wrap text option in Excel,

Step 1: Go to Home tab

Step 2: Click on Wrap Text option in the Alignment Group

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