Merge Cells Button Is Greyed Out in Excel: 3 Methods

Method 1 – Using Convert to Range Feature to Enable Merging Cells in Table

Steps:

  • Select the entire dataset. Excel displays the Table Design tab along with the other tabs. Go to Table Design > Select Convert to Range (from the Tools section).

Using Merge and Center option to the Problem Merge Cells Greyed Out in Excel

  • Excel displays a confirmation pop-up saying it’ll convert the Table to a normal range. Click YES to confirm the application.

Confirmation to the Problem Merge Cells Greyed Out in Excel

  • Select the desired cells, Go to Home > Alignment section > Select Merge & Center.

Using Mergr and Center Option to the Problem Merge Cells Greyed Out in Excel

  • Selecting Merge & Center makes Excel show a warning that only the upper left value will remain after merging. Click OK to get the desired result.

  • You will get the result for the particular group. It is very important to remember that the merged cell will contain the first cell’s value like the image below.

  • Repeat the whole process for all the groups, you will get the desired result.


Method 2 – Use of Context Menu to Merge Cells in Table!

Steps:

  • Select the entire data table and right-click on the table.

  • The Context Menu will appear on the screen. From the Context Menu, choose the Table option > Select Convert to Range.

Right-click to the Problem Merge Cells Greyed Out in Excel

  • Excel displays a confirmation window saying it’ll convert Excel Table to the normal range. Click YES to apply the application.

  • Repeat the last step of the first method(select the desired cells>go to Home > Alignment section > Select Merge & Center), and you will get the desired result for every group like the below image.

Method 3 – Applying VBA Code

Steps:

  • Press ALT+F11 to open Microsoft Visual Basic in the window, go to the Insert tab (from the Toolbar) > Select Module (from the options).

  • Insert the following macro code in the module.
Sub TableToRange()
Dim wrkSheet As Worksheet
Dim wrkList As ListObject
Set wrkSheet = ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet
For Each wrkList In wrkSheet.ListObjects
wrkList.Unlist
Next
End Sub

Inserting VBA to the Problem Merge Cells Greyed Out in Excel

  • Use the F5 key to run the macro. After returning to the worksheet, you see no Table Design tab though you click on cells within the pre-existing Table This indicates the confirmation of the conversion of the Excel Table to a normal range.

  • Repeat the last step of the first method(select the desired cells>go to Home > Alignment section > Select Merge & Center), and you will get the desired result for every group, like the image below.


Things to Remember

  • In all cases, if you merge the cells, the merged cell will show the result of the first cell.
  • Moreover, the first method is the easiest among all methods. In the case of the second and third methods follow a similar method as the first one with the slightest change.
  • Lastly, we recommend downloading the Excel file and having a look while reading the article to have a better understanding.

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Zehad Rian Jim
Zehad Rian Jim

Zehad Rian Jim is a dedicated professional with a BSc. Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He's good with Microsoft Office and has written more than 80 helpful articles for ExcelDemy in the last year. Now, he makes fun and easy-to-follow Excel tutorials for YouTube as part of the ExcelDemy Video project. Zehad loves figuring out Excel problems, and his passion for learning new things in Excel shines through in... Read Full Bio

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