How to Clear Content in Excel (4 Methods)

Method 1 – Clear Content Using a Keyboard Shortcut

1.1 Clear Content of a Single Cell

• Select the cell from which you want to clear contents and press the Del / Delete key on your keyboard.

• The content of that cell is cleared.

1.2 Clear Content from a Range of Cells

• Select the range of cells and press the Del/Delete key on your keyboard.

• The content of that range of cells is cleared.

1.3 Clearing Content from an Entire Row or Column

• Select the row or column whose contents you want to clear and press the Del / Delete key on your keyboard.

• The content of that row or column is cleared.

1.4 Clear Contents from a Whole Worksheet

• Click the Select All button at the top left corner and press the Del / Delete key.

• This removes all the contents from the worksheet.

Method 2 – Utilizing the Clear Button from the Editing Option

2.1 Clear All Content

Steps:

• Select the cells or range of cells that you want to clear contents from and go to Home > Editing > Clear.
• Select Clear All.

•  All the contents is cleared.

2.2 Clear Formatting from Cells

• Select the cells from where you want to clear the formatting and go to Home > Editing > Clear > Clear Formats.

• The formatting will be removed without the contents.

Method 3 – Applying the Go To Special Tool to Clear Content

Steps:

• Press the F5.
• The Go To window appears. Click Special.

• The Go To Special window appears.
• Select the Constants option from the Select group and click OK.

• Press the Del / Delete.

Method 4 – Using VBA to Clear Content

• Select the cells whose contents you want to clear and go to the Developer tab >> Visual Basic.

• Insert a new module by going to Insert > Module and enter the following code:

Sub Clear_Cells_from_Selection()
Selection.Clear
End Sub

• Save the workbook as .xlsm file and Run the code.

• The selected cells are cleared.

Things to Remember

• Select the cells carefully to delete contents from.
• The Del / Delete key does not clear any formatting or comments from the cells. It just clears values.
• Save the Excel file as an enabled one; otherwise, you can not run the code.

Download the Practice Workbook

You can practice on your own by downloading the free Excel worksheet.

Clear Contents in Excel: Knowledge Hub

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