Formatting Issues

How to Ungroup or Unmerge Cells in Microsoft Excel

Chanuka Geekiyanage Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to separate combined cells or remove structural outlines in an Excel spreadsheet.

How to Ungroup or Unmerge Cells in Microsoft Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user is attempting to separate data layouts but might be confusing the 'Ungroup' command for outlines with the 'Unmerge' command for cells.
Observed behavior: The Data > Outline > Ungroup command does not work when trying to separate merged cells, causing confusion over which formatting tool to use.

Before you start

Before making changes, click on the affected area to determine if multiple cells are combined into one large cell (merged), or if there are plus/minus buttons on the margins indicating grouped rows or columns (outline).

Solution 1Recommended

How to Unmerge Cells in Excel

Use this method if multiple cells have been combined into a single large cell and you need to separate them back into individual cells.

Merging cells combines two or more cells into one. To reverse this, you must use the Unmerge feature rather than the Ungroup tool.

Select the Merged Cell

Click on the merged cell that you want to separate in your Excel worksheet.

Navigate to the Home Tab

Go to the 'Home' tab located on the Excel ribbon at the top of the window.

Click Unmerge Cells

In the Alignment group, click the drop-down arrow next to 'Merge & Center' and select 'Unmerge Cells'.

Data Placement: When you unmerge a cell, all existing data will be placed in the top-left cell of the newly separated range. The other cells will be empty.

Solution 2

How to Ungroup Rows or Columns

Follow these steps if your worksheet has an outline with expandable (+) or collapsible (-) groups on the margins that you want to remove.

Efficient Spreadsheet Tool

Ungroup and Unmerge Cells Easily with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office offers a highly compatible and free spreadsheet tool that allows you to easily manage grouped data and merged cells. It features an intuitive interface perfectly compatible with Microsoft Excel, making your formatting work seamless.

1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing spreadsheet document.
2. Unmerge combined cells: Select the combined cell, go to the Home tab, click the 'Merge and Center' dropdown, and choose 'Unmerge Cells'.
3. Ungroup rows or columns: Highlight the grouped rows or columns, navigate to the Data tab, and click the 'Ungroup' button.

Free, lightweight, and fast spreadsheet processingFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .xlsx and .xlsFamiliar interface with one-click unmerge and clear outline options

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Ungroup option grayed out in Excel?

The Ungroup option might be grayed out if the worksheet is protected, or if you haven't selected a valid range of grouped rows or columns. Check if sheet protection is enabled under the Review tab.

Can I unmerge all cells in a worksheet at once?

Yes. Click the 'Select All' triangle in the top-left corner of the worksheet (or press Ctrl+A), then go to the Home tab, click the drop-down next to 'Merge & Center', and select 'Unmerge Cells'.

How can I quickly find all merged cells in my worksheet?

Press Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog, click 'Options', then 'Format'. Go to the 'Alignment' tab, check the 'Merge cells' box, and click OK. Finally, click 'Find All' to see a list of every merged cell in the sheet.

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