How to Insert a Line Break in Excel – 3 Methods

This is the an overview.

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Method 1 – How to Insert a Line Break in Excel using Keyboard Shortcuts

• Double-click the cell and place your cursor where you want to create the line break. For Windows, press Alt + Enter. For Mac, press Control + Option + Enter.

Repeat the process to create other line breaks.

Method 2 – Use the Find and Replace Command to Add a Line Break After a Specific Character

Replace a particular character with a line break.

Select C5:C11 and press Ctrl+H.

• In the Find and Replace dialog box, insert:

Find what >> A space

Replace with >> Press Ctrl + J (the shortcut for character 10, a line break, in the ASCII code).

• Click Replace All.

This is the output.

Read More: Find and Replace Line Breaks in Excel

Method 3 – Insert a Line Break with the CHAR Function in Excel

3.1 Use the Ampersand Sign to Start a New Line

Use the formula in E5:

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.

3.2 Use the CONCAT Function to insert a Line Break

In cell E5, enter the formula:

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.

The formula concatenates the values in B5:D5 with a line break in between.

3.3 Add a Line Break with the TEXTJOIN Function

Use the formula in E5:

Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.

The formula joins the values in B5:D5 with a line break after each cell value and ignores empty values.

Use a Defined Name Instead of CHAR(10) in Excel Formulas

• Go to the Formulas tab > click Defined Names > select Define Name.

• In the dialog box, input:

Name > LB

Scope > Workbook

Refers to > =CHAR(10)

• Click OK.

LB is used instead of CHAR(10) in the formulas. For example:

How to Enable the Wrap Text Feature in Excel (to insert a Line Break Automatically)

The above image shows the cell content in column B exceeding the cell width.

• Select B5:B11 and go to the Home tab.
• Click Argument > select Wrap Text.

Content is adjusted to fit the column width.

Read More: How to Make Excel Go to Next Line Automatically

How to Create a New Line in a Formula Bar in Excel

• Select the cell and go to the formula bar.
• Click and place the cursor where you need to insert a line break.  For Windows, press Alt+Enter. For Mac, press Control + Option + Enter.

This is the output.

How to Remove Line Breaks in Excel

• To remove line breaks, select C5:C11 and press Ctrl+H.

• In the Find and Replace dialog box, enter:

Find what >> Press Ctrl + J

Replace with >> A space

• Click Replace All.

Adjust column width and you’ll see the cell content in a single line.

Things to Remember

• The code for a line break in Windows is 10, so use CHAR(10). For Mac, is 13, so use CHAR(13).

Related Articles

• How to Space Down in Excel
• How to Replace Line Break with Comma in Excel
• [Fixed!] Line Break in Cell Not Working in Excel

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