Data Import & Export

Fix Excel "Number Stored as Text" Warning After Copying MS Project Percentages

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where percentage data copied from Microsoft Project is pasted into Excel as text, triggering a "Number Stored as Text" warning and preventing correct percentage formatting.

How to Fix Excel "Number Stored as Text" When Copying Percentages from Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Copying task completion percentages (such as the % Complete field) from Microsoft Project and pasting them into Microsoft Excel.
Observed behavior: Excel displays a "Number Stored as Text" warning for the imported percentages. The destination cells do not act as true numbers, even when explicitly formatted as percentages.

Before you start

Ensure you select only the specific column containing the problematic percentage values before applying data conversion tools to avoid unintentionally modifying other text data.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Text to Columns to Convert Text to Numbers

This is the most reliable method to force Excel to re-evaluate text strings as true numbers so it can correctly apply percentage formatting.

When data is imported from external applications like Microsoft Project, hidden formatting rules or encodings often force Excel to read the data as literal text. The Text to Columns tool parses this data again, stripping away the text formatting and converting it into calculable numbers.

Select the Affected Cells

Highlight the range of cells in Excel that display the "Number Stored as Text" warning (often indicated by a green triangle in the top-left corner).

Open Text to Columns

Navigate to the 'Data' tab on the Excel ribbon and click on 'Text to Columns' in the Data Tools group.

Choose Delimited

In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, select 'Delimited' as the original data type and click 'Next'.

Clear Delimiters and Finish

Uncheck all delimiter options (such as Tab, Space, or Comma) so none are selected, then simply click 'Finish' to complete the conversion.

Use Text to Columns to Convert Text to Numbers

Formatting Restored: Once finished, the green error triangles will disappear, and Excel will immediately recognize the values as numbers, correctly applying any existing percentage formatting.

Solution 2

Use the Error Checking Dropdown Menu

A quick and straightforward fix if you are only dealing with a small cluster of cells showing the error indicator.

Professional Data Processing

Convert Text to Numbers Effortlessly in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers a highly compatible and free environment for all your data import needs. It seamlessly handles imported data from project management tools and includes familiar, powerful features like Text to Columns to resolve formatting inconsistencies quickly.

1. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file containing your pasted Microsoft Project data.
2. Select the Data Range: Highlight all the cells showing the percentage values that are incorrectly stored as text.
3. Access Data Tools: Go to the 'Data' tab on the top menu ribbon and select the 'Text to Columns' tool.
4. Convert the Values: Select 'Delimited', click 'Next', ensure all delimiter boxes are unchecked, and click 'Finish' to apply the number format.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsFamiliar user interface with zero learning curveBuilt-in Text to Columns and error-checking tools to quickly fix imported textLightweight application that runs smoothly on older or budget devices

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel store imported percentages as text?

When copying data from external programs like Microsoft Project, hidden formatting characters or different data type encodings cause Excel to interpret the incoming numbers as literal text strings instead of mathematical values.

Will changing the cell format to "Percentage" fix this issue?

No. Changing the cell format to Percentage only affects how true numbers are displayed. If the underlying data is already stored as text, simply changing the visual format won't convert the data type. You must convert the text to a number first.

Can I use Paste Special to force the text into numbers?

Yes. You can type the number 1 in a blank cell, copy it, select your text-formatted percentages, right-click to choose 'Paste Special', select 'Multiply' under Operations, and click OK. This mathematical operation forces Excel to convert the text back into numbers.

Excel & Data Problems