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Fix Excel for the Web Removing Bold or Strikethrough Formatting
Question details
Users experience partial in-cell formatting loss when double-clicking cells to edit in Excel for the web.
- Product
- Excel for the web
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing workbooks hosted on SharePoint Online or Box that were originally formatted in the desktop version of Excel.
- Observed behavior
- Partial in-cell formatting, such as bold and strikethrough text, is removed immediately after a cell is double-clicked.
Ensure you have a backup of the original workbook opened in the desktop version of Excel, as some complex formatting is easier to repair offline.
Reapply Formatting using Format Painter
Use the Format Painter tool to copy stable formatting from another cell and eliminate problematic characters like apostrophes.
Excel for the web can occasionally struggle with partial in-cell text formatting applied via the desktop app. Copying the format freshly within the web app can reset the cell's rendering behavior.
Select an unaffected, empty cell and type a test character. Apply the desired bold or strikethrough formatting to this character.
Keep the test cell selected, go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon, and click the 'Format Painter' icon.
Click and drag over the cells that have been losing their formatting to apply the copied format.
Click on the affected cells and check the formula bar. Delete any unnecessary leading apostrophes if they exist.
Double-click the newly formatted cells in Excel for the web to confirm that the bold or strikethrough formatting remains intact.
Unmerge and Reformat Cell Ranges
Large merged cell ranges (such as 15 columns by 1 row) can trigger rendering bugs in the web version.
Experience Stable Cell Formatting with WPS Office
If Excel for the web keeps losing your in-cell formatting, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides robust spreadsheet editing with seamless formatting retention, whether you're working on desktop or web, completely free.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free software for your operating system.
- 2. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx or .xls file.
- 3. Edit securely: Apply bold, strikethrough, or merge cells without worrying about unexpected formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel for the web lose my strikethrough formatting?
Excel for the web has known limitations with rendering partial in-cell formatting. When you double-click a cell to edit, it may strip formats originally applied in the desktop version or complex merged ranges.
Can I recover the formatting once it's removed?
You cannot undo it directly if the auto-save has overwritten it. You will need to reapply the formatting manually or use the Format Painter tool to copy formatting from an unaffected cell.
Does this formatting issue affect files on SharePoint or Box?
Yes, workbooks created in the desktop version of Excel and hosted on SharePoint Online or Box frequently encounter this formatting removal issue when opened in Excel for the web.
