3 Quick Ways to Remove Formulas in Excel

Key Takeaways

• You can remove formulas in Excel without deleting the underlying data using methods such as right-clicking the cell, using options in the Home tab, or employing keyboard shortcuts, making it easier to share reports without disclosing formula details.
• Reducing formulas in Excel can also help in decreasing the file size, which can be particularly advantageous when working with large spreadsheets or when sharing files with others who may have limited system resources or storage space.
• To further enhance Excel proficiency and learn more about managing formulas, there are additional resources such as tutorials on mastering Excel formulas, understanding why formulas may give incorrect answers, and applying formulas across entire columns.

Here is our sample worksheet which has the following formulas in Column E:

Instead of showing the formula =REPLACE(D9, 1, FIND(“-“,D9), “”) in the address bar, you want the value i.e. the new phone number to be displayed.

Remove Formula using Right Click

Download this Excel Workbook and follow along to understand how to Excel remove formula from your worksheet:

 

STEP 1: Select all the cells that have formulas:

 

STEP 2:Right click and select Copy:

 

STEP 3: Right click again and select Paste Values:

Now you will see that the values are only retained and the formulas are now gone!

 

Remove Formula using the Home Tab

STEP 1: Select all the cells that have formulas:

STEP 2: Go to the Home tab in the Clipboard group, click the arrow below Paste and then click Paste Values.

Now, you will see that the cells don’t have formulas anymore. It has been replaced by values.

Lastly, you can even use keyboard shortcuts to convert formulas to value.

 

Find & Remove Formula using Keyboard Shortcuts

In the above scenarios, you already knew which cells contain formulas.

Let’s go to an example where you have to first find the cells containing formulas and then learn how to remove formulas in Excel using keyboard shortcuts.

In the data below, the sales price for some product have been calculated using formulas and some are constant values.

 

You have to remove the formulas from your Excel Worksheet. Follow the steps below to learn how to remove formula in Excel shortcut:

STEP 1: Press Ctrl + G to open the Go To dialog box and then select Special.

STEP 2: Select Formulas for the list and click OK.

All the cells containing formulas will be selected.

STEP 3: Highlight these cells with color.

The cells will be highlighted in yellow!

STEP 4: Press Ctrl + C to copy the cells.

STEP 5: Press Alt+E+S to open the Paste Special option dialog box.

 

STEP 6: Press V to select values and click OK.

The formula has now been replaced with value.

STEP 7: Repeat the same steps for other highlighted cells.

Additional Tips and Tricks for Managing Excel Data

Avoid Common Mistakes When Removing Formulas

When you’re geared up to remove formulas, take care to avoid some common pitfalls. Double-check that you have selected the correct range of cells; an accidental slip-up here could lead to losing precious data. It’s important to ensure that the values you wish to retain are not dependent on other cells that you’re altering. Also, keep in mind the far-reaching impact of your changes. If other worksheets or workbooks are linked to the data you’re modifying, removing formulas could disrupt the entire system. Lastly, remember to verify your data after removal. Without the underlying formulas, some data might not be updated correctly if changes are made elsewhere later on.

Tools in Excel to Aid Formula Removal

Excel offers several built-in features to streamline formula removal. ‘Paste Special’ is your go-to feature for this task—it allows you to copy the data and then paste only the values, leaving the formulas behind. The ‘Find & Select’ tool is handy for highlighting all the cells that contain formulas, which you can then manipulate in bulk. Also, Excel’s ‘Go To Special’ function can specifically target cells with formulas, making them easier to identify and remove. Remember, while these tools are powerful, using them with understanding and caution will ensure you preserve your data accurately.

Integrating Other Excel Solutions Post-Formula Removal

Formatting and Presenting Your Data Effectively

Once the formulas are out of the picture, your data is ready for the spotlight. To make your dataset shine, focus on the formatting. Apply consistent fonts, align your text, use borders and shading, and choose appropriate number formats—like currency or percentages where needed. Excel tables and conditional formatting are your allies, offering a structured and visually appealing way to display data. And don’t forget to use charts and pivot tables for those high-impact visual summaries that help convey the story behind the numbers.

Leveraging Excel Functions for Future Data Analysis

After removing formulas and securing your data, you might still need to perform future analyses. This is where Excel’s function library becomes invaluable. Functions like SUM, VLOOKUP, and IF remain ready to help you analyze fresh data without hassle. These power players will help you swiftly sort through data, make conditional comparisons, and total up figures across your datasets with accuracy. Knowing how to use these functions effectively will keep you ahead in data analysis, making Excel an even more powerful tool in your arsenal.

FAQs

How do I ensure that only formulas are removed and not data?

To ensure that only formulas are removed and not data, use Excel’s ‘Paste Special’ function. Firstly, copy the cells with formulas, then paste using the ‘Values’ option. This process converts formulas to static data, leaving your cell values intact without the underlying formulas.

How do I turn off formulas in Excel?

To turn off formulas in Excel, go to the “Formulas” tab, select “Calculation Options,” and switch “Workbook Calculation” to “Manual.” Remember to uncheck “Recalculate workbook before saving” if you don’t want Excel to automatically update the calculations before saving.

Can I remove formulas from multiple cells at once?

Absolutely! You can remove formulas from multiple cells at once by selecting a range of cells or multiple ranges, copying them (Ctrl+C), and then pasting only the values using the ‘Paste Special > Values’ option. This replaces the formulas with their current values throughout your selection in one swift action.

Conclusion

There are 3 ways in which you can Excel remove formula using either right-click, home tab, or keyboard shortcuts. This will help you to remove the formula without deleting the data.

You can easily reduce the size of your file or hide the formula from recipients!