Formatting Issues

Fix Excel Format Painter Copying the Wrong Font Size

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where the Excel Format Painter applies the correct text color but results in an unexpectedly large font size and mismatched cell widths compared to the source cell.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Copying cell formatting from a source cell to a target cell using the Format Painter tool.
Observed behavior: The target text appears much larger than the source font size despite having the same value, and the target cell width does not match the source.

Before you start

Before modifying system settings, verify whether this formatting anomaly occurs across all your Excel workbooks or if it is isolated to a specific corrupted file.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Office User Settings via Registry

Resetting the Office registry keys clears corrupted user preferences that may cause erratic Format Painter behavior.

Sometimes, the Office user settings become corrupted, leading to display glitches where the apparent font size does not match the numerical font value. Renaming the Office registry folder forces Excel to rebuild these settings to their factory defaults.

Open the Registry Editor

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'regedit', and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the Office Key

In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office.

Rename the Office Folder

Right-click the 'Office' folder, select 'Rename', and change the name to 'Office.old'.

Restart Excel

Close the Registry Editor and open Microsoft Excel. The application will generate a fresh set of default registry keys.

Registry Modification: Take care to only modify the specified Office folder. Modifying other system keys can affect your operating system.

Solution 2

Copy Column Widths Using Paste Special

The standard Format Painter does not copy column widths by default. You must use the Paste Special feature to match structural dimensions.

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1. Download WPS Office: Get the free installer from the official WPS website and quickly set it up on your device.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the Format Painter copy column widths in Excel?

By default, the Format Painter is programmed to copy only text styles and cell formatting (like fonts, colors, and borders). To duplicate a column's width, you must copy the cell, right-click the destination, choose Paste Special, and select 'Column widths'.

How do I lock the Format Painter to apply formatting to multiple cells?

Double-click the Format Painter icon instead of clicking it once. This locks the tool in an active state, allowing you to paint the same formatting onto multiple non-adjacent cells. Press the Esc key on your keyboard to deactivate it.

Does the Format Painter copy conditional formatting rules?

Yes, using the Format Painter will duplicate any conditional formatting rules applied to the source cell onto the target cells. If this is not desired, you will need to manually clear the rules from the destination cells via the Conditional Formatting menu.

Document & File Issues