'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Change the Color of Existing Borders in Excel for Mac
Question details
The user needs to change the color of cell borders that have already been applied in Excel for Mac, but finds that changing the color setting alone does not update the previously drawn borders.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Updating the style and color of existing cell borders in a worksheet.
- Observed behavior
- Changing the border color in the Format Cells menu only affects newly added borders unless the specific existing border sides are manually re-selected in the preview diagram.
Ensure you have selected the exact range of cells containing the borders you want to modify before opening the Format Cells dialog.
Update Existing Border Colors via the Format Cells Dialog
Use the border preview diagram in the Format Cells menu to re-apply the new color to existing borders.
In Excel, selecting a new border color only readies the system to draw new borders with that color. To update existing borders, you must explicitly tell Excel which lines should receive the newly selected color.
Highlight the cell or range of cells in your worksheet that have the existing borders you want to change.
Right-click the selected cells and choose "Format Cells" from the context menu, or press Cmd + 1 on your Mac keyboard.
In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the "Border" tab to view the current border settings for your selected cells.
Select your desired color from the "Color" dropdown menu and pick a line style from the "Style" box.
In the preview diagram, click on the specific border lines you want to change, or use the Preset and border location buttons around the preview. You must click them after selecting the new color.
Click "OK" to apply the updated border colors to your selected cells.
Easily Format Cell Borders with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office Spreadsheet provides an intuitive Format Cells interface highly compatible with Excel, allowing you to easily customize, change, and update cell border colors on Mac without hassle.
- 1. Select Cells: Highlight the cells containing the borders you wish to modify in WPS Spreadsheet.
- 2. Access Format Cells: Right-click and choose "Format Cells", or use the Cmd + 1 keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Update Borders: Go to the "Borders" tab, select your new color, and click the specific borders in the preview diagram to apply the change before clicking "OK".
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't my border color change after I selected a new color in the dropdown?
In Excel, selecting a new color from the dropdown only sets the active color for borders you are about to draw. To apply this new color to existing borders, you must click the specific border lines in the preview diagram within the Format Cells dialog after selecting the color.
Can I change the border color of multiple non-adjacent cells at once on Mac?
Yes. Hold down the Command key while clicking to select multiple non-adjacent cells, then open the Format Cells dialog (Cmd + 1). Any border styles and colors you apply in the Border tab will affect all selected cells.
Is there a way to quickly remove all borders to start over?
Yes. Select the cells, go to the Home tab on the ribbon, click the Borders dropdown icon, and choose "No Border". Alternatively, in the Format Cells Border tab, you can click the "None" preset button and click OK.
