Data Import & Export

How to Fix Excel Text Import Adding Unwanted Headings

Ayan Masood Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Excel from automatically adding headings when importing a text file, a behavior caused by a recent software update that changed the default import tool.

How to Prevent Excel Text Import from Adding Unwanted Headings

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing a text or CSV file into a spreadsheet after a Microsoft Office upgrade.
Observed behavior: Excel automatically formats the imported text data as a table with unwanted headings, and the old 'Properties' option to disable this is no longer visible.

Before you start

Verify whether your version of Excel is using Power Query (Get & Transform Data) by default for text imports, as this automatically converts imported data into formatted tables.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide Headers in the Power Query Table

If Excel has already imported your text file using Power Query, you can quickly hide the unwanted header row using the Table Design options.

Modern versions of Excel use Power Query to import data by default. This process automatically structures your data into a Table. You do not need to re-import the data; you can simply toggle the table formatting.

Select the imported data

Click anywhere inside the data table that was just imported into your Excel worksheet.

Open Table Design settings

Look at the Excel ribbon at the top of the window and click on the 'Table Design' (or simply 'Design') tab that appears.

Remove the header row

In the 'Table Style Options' group, uncheck the box labeled 'Header Row'. The unwanted headings will immediately disappear from your data.

Quick Tip: If you want to remove the table structure entirely while keeping the data, click 'Convert to Range' in the Tools group of the Table Design tab.

Solution 2

Restore the Legacy Text Import Wizard

Bring back the classic Text Import Wizard by adding it to your Quick Access Toolbar, giving you manual control over how text files are imported.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Simpler Data Import Experience

If recent Microsoft Office updates have made simple tasks like importing text files overly complicated, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and familiar alternative. WPS Spreadsheet retains a straightforward, classic Text Import Wizard by default, allowing you to load data quickly without forced table formatting or a steep learning curve. Enjoy seamless migration and full compatibility with all your existing files.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing Spreadsheet.
2. Go to the Data tab: Click on the 'Data' tab in the top ribbon menu and select 'Import Data'.
3. Import your text file: Choose your text or CSV file. The classic import wizard will guide you through setting delimiters without forcing unwanted table headers.

Provides a classic, intuitive Text Import Wizard without forced table headings.Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats, including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Lightweight installation ensures data loads quickly on any device.Familiar user interface requires no retraining or steep learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Excel change the way it imports text files?

Microsoft updated Excel to use Power Query (Get & Transform) as the default data import engine. While powerful for complex data analysis, it automatically loads text and CSV files into formatted tables with headers, which differs from the behavior of the older Text Import Wizard.

Can I permanently re-enable the old Text Import Wizard in the Data tab?

Yes. Go to File > Options > Data. Under the 'Show legacy data import wizards' section, check the box for 'From Text (Legacy)'. You can then access it anytime from the Data tab by clicking 'Get Data' > 'Legacy Wizards' > 'From Text (Legacy)'.

How do I remove the green and white table formatting from my imported data?

Click any cell inside the imported table, go to the 'Table Design' tab on the ribbon, and click 'Convert to Range' on the left side. This removes the table functionality. To clear the colors, highlight the data, go to the Home tab, click the 'Clear' eraser icon, and select 'Clear Formats'.

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