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How to Expand a Condensed Text Box in SharePoint

Olivia Miller Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs a way to view and expand the full contents of a text box within a SharePoint list.

How to Expand a Condensed Text Box in SharePoint

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing or editing multi-line text fields in modern SharePoint lists without having to individually click 'Edit' or 'Expand' for each cell.
Observed behavior: The modern SharePoint interface automatically condenses long text into a smaller box, forcing the user to manually select Edit or Expand to read the full entry.

Before you start

Verify that you have sufficient list editing or site owner permissions, as altering list views or switching to the Classic experience requires specific access rights.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Edit in Grid View (Quick Edit)

This is the most efficient method to view and expand text across multiple rows simultaneously within the modern SharePoint experience.

Open your SharePoint List

Navigate to the specific SharePoint list containing the condensed text boxes you want to expand.

Enable Grid View

Click on the 'Edit in grid view' button (formerly known as Quick Edit) located in the command bar at the top of your list.

Adjust Column Width

Hover over the boundary of the column header containing the text. Click and drag the boundary to expand the column width, allowing you to view the full text content.

Quick Editing: Grid view not only expands the text but also allows you to make rapid edits to multiple cells, similar to working in a spreadsheet.

Solution 2

Switch to the Classic SharePoint Experience

If the modern experience interface restricts your workflow, reverting to the Classic experience alters how lists and text boxes are displayed.

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Manage Exported SharePoint Data Easily with WPS Office

While SharePoint list interfaces are managed online, you will often need to export these lists to Excel or CSV for detailed formatting, analysis, and printing. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring seamless migration and a familiar user interface for handling all your exported SharePoint data without display restrictions.

1. Export from SharePoint: Click 'Export' in your SharePoint list command bar and choose 'Export to Excel' or 'Export to CSV'.
2. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
3. View Full Text Data: Open the exported file in WPS Spreadsheet. Select the columns and use the 'Wrap Text' feature to view all your expanded text instantly.

Seamless format compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV files exported directly from SharePoint.Lightweight application design that opens large data lists in seconds without lagging.Highly familiar user interface that requires zero learning curve for seamless migration from MS Office.Easily adjust row heights, column widths, and apply text wrapping to view all your multi-line SharePoint text comfortably.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently disable the condensed text box in the modern SharePoint experience?

No, the condensed text box and the requirement to click 'Edit' or 'Expand' are built-in design behaviors of the modern SharePoint experience. They cannot be permanently removed or disabled through standard user settings.

Why is the 'Edit in grid view' option missing from my SharePoint list?

The 'Edit in grid view' option might be disabled in your List settings under Advanced settings (Quick property editing), or you may not have the necessary editing permissions. Contact your site administrator to ensure the feature is enabled for the list.

Will switching to the Classic experience affect other users viewing the list?

If you change the 'List experience' through the List settings menu, it will change the default view for all users accessing that specific list. However, if you simply click the 'Return to classic SharePoint' link at the bottom left of the screen, the change is temporary and only affects your current browsing session.

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