Function Problems

How to Extract Text Between Angle Brackets in Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to extract an email address or specific text enclosed within angle brackets (< >) from a larger text string into a separate Excel cell.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Cleaning up contact lists where names and email addresses are combined in a single cell formatted as "Name <email@domain.com>".
Observed behavior: The goal is to isolate and output only the text found strictly between the "<" and ">" characters without including the brackets themselves.

Before you start

Ensure your data is consistently formatted with both opening (<) and closing (>) angle brackets in the target cells, as missing brackets will cause the text extraction formulas to return an error.

Solution 1Recommended

Extract Text Using MID and FIND Functions

Use the standard MID and FIND formulas to locate the angle brackets and extract the exact string between them. This method works universally across all spreadsheet tools.

This approach uses the FIND function to locate the exact position of both the opening and closing angle brackets. The MID function then uses these positions to extract only the characters situated between them.

Select the target cell

Click on the blank cell where you want the extracted text (email address) to appear, such as cell B1.

Enter the extraction formula

Assuming your original text is in cell A1, type the following formula into the formula bar: =MID(A1,FIND("<",A1)+1,FIND(">",A1)-FIND("<",A1)-1).

Apply to the entire column

Press Enter to see the result. Then, click the small square at the bottom-right corner of cell B1 and drag it down to apply the formula to the remaining rows in your dataset.

Universal Compatibility: This formula combination is highly reliable and works in Microsoft Excel, WPS Spreadsheet, and Google Sheets without needing any specialized add-ins.

Solution 2

Extract Email Addresses Using TEXTAFTER and REGEXEXTRACT

If your spreadsheet supports regular expressions, you can use REGEXEXTRACT combined with TEXTAFTER to specifically target and extract email formats.

Efficient Data Processing

Easily Extract and Manage Data with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet fully supports advanced text functions like MID, FIND, and standard text manipulation tools. You can effortlessly process complex text strings, extract email addresses, and manage large datasets using the exact same formulas you are already used to.

1. Open your dataset: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the document containing your combined text and email addresses.
2. Select the destination cell: Click on an empty cell next to the data you wish to process.
3. Apply the extraction formula: Input the =MID(A1,FIND('<',A1)+1,FIND('>',A1)-FIND('<',A1)-1) formula and press Enter to extract the text.
4. Autofill the rest of your data: Double-click the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of the cell to instantly apply the formula down the entire column.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formulas and .xlsx file formats.Lightweight and fast, ensuring smooth performance even with thousands of rows of data.Built-in data cleaning tools for splitting text and extracting specific values.Free and cross-platform accessibility across Windows, Mac, Linux, and Mobile.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the MID and FIND formula return a #VALUE! error?

This error occurs if the target cell does not contain either the opening < or the closing > bracket. Ensure your data contains both brackets, or wrap your formula in an =IFERROR() function to handle missing brackets gracefully by returning a blank space instead of an error.

Can I extract text between other characters like parentheses or square brackets?

Yes. You can adapt the formula by simply replacing the < and > symbols within the FIND functions with your desired characters, such as ( and ) for parentheses or [ and ] for square brackets.

Is there a way to extract text between brackets without using formulas?

Yes, you can use the Flash Fill feature. Type the desired extracted text (the email address without brackets) in the adjacent cell, press Enter, and then press Ctrl + E. The spreadsheet will automatically detect your typing pattern and fill the remaining cells.

How do I remove the brackets entirely from the original cell?

You can use the Find and Replace tool (Ctrl + H). Search for <*> to find everything between brackets and replace it with nothing if you want to delete the email entirely. If you just want to remove the brackets but keep the text, you will need to do two passes: replace < with nothing, then replace > with nothing.

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