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You might want to split a cell into two smaller cells within a single column. Unfortunately, you can’t do this in Excel. Instead, create a new column next to the column that has the cell you want to split and then split the cell. You can also split the contents of a cell into multiple adjacent cells.

See the following screenshots for an example:

Cells in Excel Cells that have been split

Split the content from one cell into two or more cells

Note:  Excel for the web doesn't have the Text to Columns Wizard. Instead, you can Split text into different columns with functions.

  1. Select the cell or cells whose contents you want to split.

    Important: When you split the contents, they will overwrite the contents in the next cell to the right, so make sure to have empty space there.

  2. On the Data tab, in the Data Tools group, click Text to Columns. The Convert Text to Columns Wizard opens.

    The "Text to Columns" icon is on the Data tab.
  3. Choose Delimited if it is not already selected, and then click Next.

  4. Select the delimiter or delimiters to define the places where you want to split the cell content. The Data preview section shows you what your content would look like. Click Next.

    Second page of the "Convert Text to Columns" Wizard.
  5. In the Column data format area, select the data format for the new columns. By default, the columns have the same data format as the original cell. Click Finish.

See Also

Merge and unmerge cells

Merging and splitting cells or data

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