Formatting Issues

How to Fix Excel Find and Replace Not Changing Blank Cell Fonts

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to replace blank cells in an Excel matrix with dashes, but the Find and Replace feature fails to override the existing cell font, causing the new characters to display incorrectly.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Inserting a dash character into multiple empty cells within a matrix while attempting to change the font from a symbol-based font (like Wingdings) to a standard text font (like Calibri).
Observed behavior: Excel's Find and Replace feature successfully inserts the dash but retains the pre-existing Wingdings formatting, resulting in the dash appearing as an unrecognized square box instead of the standard dash character.

Before you start

Identify the exact boundaries of your data matrix to prevent applying new fonts and characters to empty cells outside your intended working area. Verify the exact name of the standard text font you wish to apply before making your bulk selection.

Solution 1Recommended

Use 'Go To Special' to Select and Format Blank Cells

Since Find and Replace struggles to override formatting on completely blank cells, using the 'Go To Special' feature allows you to isolate all blank cells, change their font, and insert the dash simultaneously.

This method acts as a reliable workaround for what many users consider an Excel design flaw. By isolating the blank cells first, you gain complete control over the text formatting before inputting new data.

Select the target data range

Highlight the entire data matrix where you want to replace the blank cells. Do not select the entire sheet, only the relevant data boundaries.

Open Go To Special

Press Ctrl+G on your keyboard to open the 'Go To' dialog box, then click the 'Special...' button in the bottom left corner.

Select Blanks

In the Go To Special menu, choose the 'Blanks' option and click 'OK'. This will highlight only the empty cells within your selected range.

Apply the desired font

With the blank cells actively selected, navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon and change the font from Wingdings to your preferred standard font, such as Calibri.

Insert the dash across all cells

Type a dash (-) on your keyboard. Instead of pressing just Enter, press Ctrl+Enter. This instantly fills all the selected blank cells with the dash character using the newly applied font.

Successful Formatting: Pressing Ctrl+Enter ensures both the data (dash) and the formatting changes are committed to the entire active selection at once.

Efficient Spreadsheet Management

Easily Manage Blank Cell Formatting with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides robust Go To Special features that make managing and formatting blank cells intuitive, allowing you to bypass typical formatting glitches and structure your data flawlessly.

1. Highlight the Matrix: Open your worksheet in WPS Spreadsheet and select the data range containing the blank cells you need to format.
2. Access Go To Special: Press Ctrl+G on your keyboard, click 'Special', select the 'Blanks' option, and click 'OK' to isolate the empty cells.
3. Format and Fill: Change the font from the Home tab to a standard text font, type your dash, and press Ctrl+Enter to apply it across all selected blanks seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formats and complex data matrices.Reliable 'Go To Special' function to easily isolate, format, and fill blank cells in bulk.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to use for advanced everyday office tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Find and Replace override my old cell font?

When Find and Replace inserts new characters into a completely blank cell, Excel often retains the last applied cell format (like Wingdings) instead of adopting the active worksheet font or the format specified in the Replace dialog.

Why do my typed dashes look like square boxes?

This happens when a cell is formatted with a symbol font, such as Wingdings or Webdings. These fonts do not have standard text characters mapped to the standard keyboard keys, causing Excel to display an unrecognized character box instead.

What exactly does Ctrl+Enter do in Excel?

Pressing Ctrl+Enter applies the data, formula, or text you just typed into the active cell to all other cells that are currently selected at the same time, saving you from copying and pasting.

Can I use VBA to fix blank cell fonts?

Yes. You can write a short VBA macro to loop through a specific range, use an 'If IsEmpty(cell)' statement, change the 'cell.Font.Name' to your desired font, and set the 'cell.Value' to a dash.

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