The Two Ways to Add Line Breaks in Excel

You can move text to a new line inside an Excel cell in two ways: by pressing Alt+Enter (Windows) or Control+Option+Enter (Mac) while you are typing, or by using the CHAR(10) function in a formula. The first method works when you are typing directly into a cell. The second works when you want to combine text from multiple cells or create a line break as part of a calculated result.

Both methods require you to turn on text wrapping in that cell so Excel displays all the lines instead of hiding them. Without wrapping enabled, the text stays on one line even though the line break character is there.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Alt+Enter (Windows) or Control+Option+Enter (Mac) while typing to insert a line break within the same cell.
  • Text wrapping must be enabled on the cell, or the line break will be invisible and the text will appear on one line.
  • Use the CHAR(10) function inside a formula to create line breaks when combining text from other cells.
  • Row height automatically adjusts when you add a line break and wrapping is on, so you do not have to resize manually.

Adding a Line Break While Typing

Start typing your text in the cell. When you reach the point where you want to move to a new line, hold Alt and press Enter (on Windows), or hold Control and Option and press Enter (on Mac). The cursor moves down inside the same cell. Continue typing the rest of your text.

When you finish and press Enter to confirm the entry, the cell will show both lines of text — but only if text wrapping is turned on. If the text appears on a single line and looks cut off, wrapping is not enabled yet. You will fix that in the next section.

This method works in the formula bar too. If you are editing a cell by clicking inside it and typing directly, the Alt+Enter or Control+Option+Enter shortcut will work the same way.

Enabling Text Wrapping So Line Breaks Show

Select the cell or cells that contain the line breaks. Click the Home tab (if it is not already active). In the Alignment group, click Wrap Text. The button looks like lines of text stacked on top of each other.

The row height will expand automatically to show all the lines. If you have multiple cells selected and only some contain line breaks, wrapping turns on for all of them — cells without line breaks straightforward display normally.

You can also right-click the selected cell, choose Format Cells, go to the Alignment tab, and check the box next to Wrap text. This method works the same way and is useful if you prefer using the menu.

Using CHAR(10) to Create Line Breaks in Formulas

When you build text using a formula — for example, combining a first name and last name with a line break between them — use the CHAR(10) function. The number 10 is the code for a line break character.

Type a formula like this: =A1&CHAR(10)&B1. This takes the value in cell A1, adds a line break, and then adds the value in cell B1. The result appears on two lines inside the cell. You must still enable text wrapping on that cell for the line break to display.

CHAR(10) works in any formula where you are joining text together using the ampersand (&) symbol or the CONCATENATE function. It is invisible in the formula bar but creates a real line break in the cell.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is forgetting to enable text wrapping. You press Alt+Enter, the line break goes into the cell, but the text still appears on one line because wrapping is off. The line break is there — you just cannot see it. Always turn on wrapping when ready after adding a line break, or turn it on first if you know you will be adding breaks.

Another mistake is pressing Enter instead of Alt+Enter. A regular Enter key confirms the entry and moves you to the next cell down. You have to be in edit mode (either by double-clicking the cell or by pressing F2) for Alt+Enter to work as a line break instead of confirming the entry.

On Mac, forgetting the Control key is straightforward. The shortcut is Control+Option+Enter, not just Option+Enter. If it does not work, check that you are holding all three keys.

Adjusting Row Height After Adding Line Breaks

When you enable text wrapping on a cell with a line break, Excel automatically makes the row taller so all the text fits. You do not have to adjust the row height manually in most cases.

If you want to make the row taller or shorter than the automatic height, position your cursor on the row number border (the line between two row numbers on the left side). The cursor changes to a resize arrow. Drag up or down to set the height you want. You can also right-click the row number, choose Row Height, and type a specific measurement in points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if Alt+Enter does not work on my keyboard?

On Windows, make sure you are using the Alt key on the left side of the keyboard and the Enter key on the main keyboard, not the numeric keypad. If you are on a laptop, you may need to hold Fn as well. On Mac, the shortcut is Control+Option+Enter, not Alt+Enter. Check your keyboard layout in System Preferences if the shortcut still does not work.

Can I see where the line break is in the formula bar?

No. The formula bar shows the text as one continuous line, even though a line break character is inside it. You will see the break only in the cell itself when wrapping is enabled. If you are using CHAR(10) in a formula, the formula bar shows the function, but the actual line break appears only in the cell.

Does text wrapping affect how the cell prints?

Yes. When you print a spreadsheet, cells with wrapping enabled print with all their lines visible, and the row height on the printout matches what you see on screen. If wrapping is off, only the first line prints. Make sure wrapping is on before you print if you want all the text to appear.

Can I undo a line break I added by mistake?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after adding the line break. This removes the break and returns the text to a single line. If you have already moved to another cell, click back on the cell with the unwanted break and delete the content, then retype it without the break.