How to remove table formatting in excel

Answer

To remove table formatting in Excel, select any cell in the table, go to the Table Design tab, and click "Convert to Range" in the Tools group. Click "Yes" when prompted to confirm the conversion. This removes the table structure while keeping your data and any manual formatting intact.

What Happens When You Convert a Table to a Range

Converting a table to a range removes the table functionality including automatic filtering buttons, structured references in formulas, automatic expansion when adding new data, and banded row formatting. Your data remains unchanged with all values, formulas, and manually applied formatting preserved. The table style colors and borders stay as regular cell formatting after conversion.

Methods to Remove Different Types of Table Formatting

Remove Table Structure Only

Select any cell within the table. Navigate to the Table Design tab on the ribbon. Click "Convert to Range" in the Tools group. Confirm by clicking "Yes" in the dialog box. This method preserves all visual formatting while removing table functionality.

Remove Table Structure and Formatting

1. Select any cell in the table
2. Click "Convert to Range" on the Table Design tab
3. Select the entire data range
4. Go to the Home tab
5. Click "Clear" in the Editing group
6. Choose "Clear Formats"

Remove Specific Table Style Elements

Access the Table Design tab while the table is active. Click "More" in the Table Styles gallery. Select "Clear" at the bottom of the style options. This removes the table style while maintaining the table structure.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Table Formatting Removal

Windows users can press Alt + J + T + C to quickly access the Convert to Range option when a table cell is selected. After converting to a range, use Ctrl + A to select all data, then Alt + H + E + F to clear formats.

Mac users can use Command + A to select the table data after conversion, then Control + Command + V followed by Command + Option + V to paste values only, removing formatting.

Removing Conditional Formatting from Former Tables

Select the data range that was previously a table. Navigate to the Home tab and locate the Styles group. Click "Conditional Formatting" and select "Clear Rules". Choose "Clear Rules from Selected Cells" to remove conditional formatting from the specific range, or "Clear Rules from Entire Sheet" to remove all conditional formatting from the worksheet.

Preserving Data While Removing Table Features

Copy the entire table range using Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac). Right-click on a new location and select "Paste Special". Choose "Values" to paste only the data without any formatting or table structure. This creates a clean copy of your data in regular cells.

Common Issues When Removing Table Formatting

Formulas Stop Working After Conversion

Structured references in formulas change to regular cell references after converting a table to a range. Check formulas that referenced table columns and update them if they show #REF! errors. Replace table column names with standard cell references like A2:A100.

Filter Buttons Remain After Conversion

Filter buttons sometimes persist after table conversion. Remove them by selecting the data range, going to the Data tab, and clicking "Filter" to toggle off the filter buttons. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Command + Shift + F (Mac) toggles filters on and off.

Formatting Partially Remains

Some formatting elements persist after using "Convert to Range". Select the entire data range and use Home > Clear > Clear All to remove everything except data. For selective removal, use Clear > Clear Formats to keep the data while removing only visual formatting.

Alternative Methods for Different Excel Versions

Excel 365 and Excel 2021

Right-click anywhere in the table and select "Table" from the context menu. Choose "Convert to Range" from the submenu. This method works identically in both Windows and Mac versions.

Excel 2019 and Earlier Versions

Access table tools through the Design tab (which appears as Table Tools when a table is selected). The Convert to Range option appears in the same Tools group location across these versions.

Restoring Original Cell Formatting

After removing table formatting, cells revert to the default Excel style. Apply new formatting by selecting the range and using the Home tab formatting options. Cell styles in the Styles group provide quick formatting presets. The Format Painter tool copies formatting from one cell to apply across multiple cells efficiently.

 

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