MS-Excel / Getting Started

Clearing Data

After you create a spreadsheet, you may need to delete data, formulas, or just the formatting that defines the appearance of your data. To clear out one or more cells of data, formatting, or both data and formatting, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Home tab and then select the cell or cells that contain the data you want to clear.
  2. Click the downward-pointing arrow to the right of the Clear icon in the Editing group. A pull-down menu appears then choose one of the following:

    Clear Icon

    Clear All:
    Deletes the data and any formatting applied to that cell or cells

    Clear Formats:
    Leaves the data in the cell but strips away any formatting

    Clear Contents:
    Leaves the formatting in the cell but deletes the data

    Clear Comments:
    Leaves data and formatting but deletes any comments added to the cell
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