How to Unmerge Cells in Google Sheets: A Quick Guide

Published: February 10, 2024 - 3 min read

Julian Alvarado

Google Sheets makes data organization and analysis straightforward, with features like merging cells to streamline presentation. However, situations arise where you might need to revert merged cells back to individual ones for detailed data manipulation. 

This quick guide explains how to unmerge cells, enhancing your spreadsheet management skills.

Unmerging Cells in Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing data. One of the features that users often use is the ability to merge cells. However, sometimes you may want to unmerge cells to separate data or to perform calculations. In this section, we will explain how to unmerge cells in Google Sheets.

Using the Menu Options

The easiest way to unmerge cells in Google Sheets is by using the menu options. Here are the steps to do this:

  1. Select the range of merged cells that you want to unmerge.
  2. Click on the “Format” option in the menu.
  3. Hover the cursor over the “Merge Cells” option.
  4. Click on “Unmerge”.

The above steps would instantly unmerge the selected cells. Note that the unmerge option appears only when you have selected at least one merged range.

Using Right-Click Context Menu

Another way to unmerge cells in Google Sheets is by using the right-click context menu. Here are the steps to do this:

  1. Select the range of merged cells that you want to unmerge.
  2. Right-click on the selected cells to bring up the context menu.
  3. Click on the “Unmerge cells” option.

The above steps would instantly unmerge the selected cells. 

Note that you can also access the “Unmerge cells” option by clicking on the “Merge cells” icon in the toolbar and selecting “Unmerge” from the dropdown menu.

Troubleshooting Unmerge Issues

Unmerging cells in Google Sheets is a straightforward process, but sometimes issues may arise. Here are some common problems and solutions to help troubleshoot unmerge issues:

Issue: Unmerge Option is Greyed Out

If the unmerge option is greyed out, it means that the selected cells are not merged. Make sure that you have selected a merged range of cells before attempting to unmerge them.

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Issue: Unmerged Cells are Not Separating

If the cells are not separating after unmerging them, it may be because there is data in some of the cells that is preventing them from separating. To fix this issue, you can try clearing the contents of the cells or copying the data to another location and then unmerging the cells.

Issue: Unmerging Cells in a Large Spreadsheet Takes Too Long

If you are unmerging cells in a large spreadsheet and it is taking too long, it may be because there are too many merged cells in the sheet. To speed up the process, you can try selecting smaller ranges of cells to unmerge at a time or unmerging cells in smaller sections of the spreadsheet.

Issue: Unmerging Cells Changes the Formatting

Sometimes unmerging cells can change the formatting of the cells. To prevent this from happening, you can try copying the formatting of the merged cells before unmerging them and then applying it to the unmerged cells after they have been separated.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you can easily resolve common unmerge issues in Google Sheets.

Conclusion

Unmerging cells in Google Sheets is straightforward, enabling you to handle data with precision. For those seeking to amplify their Google Sheets expertise, integrating Coefficient can elevate your data management capabilities. 

Ready to advance your Google Sheets use? Get started with Coefficient for free today!  

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Julian Alvarado Content Marketing
Julian is a dynamic B2B marketer with 8+ years of experience creating full-funnel marketing journeys, leveraging an analytical background in biological sciences to examine customer needs.
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