# How to split cells in Excel

You can use separators and the Convert Text to Columns Wizard to **split** the contents of an Excel cell across several columns. It’s also possible to split Excel cells that contain multiple values.

## How to split cells in Excel quick guide

1. Select the cell that contains the data you want to split.
2. Click on **Data** > **Text to Columns**.
3. The Convert Text to Columns Wizard will appear. Select **Delimited** and click on **Next**.
4. Select your desired separator and confirm.
5. Decide on a new data format.

## How to split cells in Excel that contain data

Note These instructions apply to the Outlook version of Microsoft 365 as well as Outlook 2021, Outlook 2019 and Outlook 2016.

There are various reasons to split an Excel column or to split values in cells into multiple columns. This can be necessary, **if a cell contains multiple values that need to be individually recorded by Excel**, which is often the case when dealing with imported data sets.

Additionally, you might need to split Excel cells that were previously merged using the merge function.

### Splitting data in an Excel cell into several columns

If you have an Excel cell that contains information you would like to split into several cells, you first need to make sure **there are enough free columns available**. The number of columns that are free has to at least be equal to the number of values that are to be separated from the Excel cell.

Below, we have a cell that contains the values “1”, “2” and “3”. First, we need to add **separators between the three values**. You can use tab stops, spaces, commas or semicolons to do this:

[![Image: Separators are needed to split Excel cells.](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/c/csm_excel-split-cell-content_d3407210be.webp "Separators are needed to split Excel cells.")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/excel-split-cell-content.png) To split cells in Excel, you first need to add separators. Select the cell and open the **Data** tab. Then click on the **Text to Columns** button:

[![Image: Excel Text to Columns menu option](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/b/csm_excel-text-to-columns_288d5b6f1b.webp "Excel Text to Columns menu option")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/excel-text-to-columns.png) Once you have selected your cell, you can select the Text to Columns option. When the Convert Text to Columns Wizard opens, select **Delimited** as the data type if it’s not already selected. Then click **Next**.

Now, place a checkmark in the box next to the delimiter you want to use. If you want to use a character other than the predefined options listed in the delimiters box, you need to check the box next to **Other** and enter the character you’d like to use in the input field that’s been provided. Then click on **Next**:

[![Image: Select which separators you want to use.](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/3/csm_excel-select-separators_1ac5572dce.webp "Select which separators you want to use.")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/excel-select-separators.png) In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, you can choose from various separators if you want to split an Excel cell. Now, you can configure the **data format** of the columns. The General option is suitable in most cases. You can confirm the settings for separating the content in the cell by clicking **Finish**:

[![Image: The cell content is divided into several columns after being separated.](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/4/csm_excel-content-split-to-separate-columns_60bbc30b48.webp "The cell content is divided into several columns after being separated.")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/excel-content-split-to-separate-columns.png) After you have split the Excel cell, the original content is split into different columns. ### Splitting Excel cells that are merged

If you want to split Excel cells that contain more than one value and have been **combined into a merged cell**, the steps explained above will not work. But you can split the content among different cells by first undoing the merged cell. Here’s how:

1. **Select** the [merged cell](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/merging-cells-in-excel/) using the left mouse button.
2. Open the **Home** tab.
3. Click on the symbol for the menu item **Merge & Center** (located in the **Alignment** section). Then, select the option **Unmerge Cells**.

[![Image: Excel: Unmerge Cells](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/a/b/csm_excel-unmerge-cells_55e4691a71.webp "Excel: Unmerge Cells")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/excel-unmerge-cells.png) You can unmerge merged cells by removing the connection between the cells. Alternatively, you can unmerge cells this way:

1. Click on the merged cell using the **right mouse button** and select the option **Format Cells…**.
2. **Remove the checkmark** from the box next to **Merge cells**.
3. Click **OK**.

Note Unmerging a cell will place all the content of the cells back into a single cell. However, you can use the conversion assistant in order to split the values back over multiple cells or columns.


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