Shortcut for Merge and Center in Excel (3 Examples)

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

For various reasons, we need to merge consecutive cells and center align the contents in those cells. Microsoft Excel allows us to merge cells and center align the texts, numbers whatever contents are present in the cells in numerous ways. In this article, you will learn 3 shortcut to merge and center in Excel with hands-on examples.


Download the Practice Workbook

You can download the Excel file from the link below and practice along with it.


Why Merge & Center?

Merging cells means concatenating a number of cells vertically or horizontally that allows us more space to insert contents. Primarily, merge & center is used to create a title bar to the data tables.

Merge & center makes the title bar visually more appealing and also it makes more sense while creating a data table in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.


3 Shortcuts for Merge and Center in Excel

1. Shortcut for Merge & Center in Excel

Look at the screenshot below. We have a data table of columns named Book List. Here the title of the table is Book List which is located only on a single cell.

But we can make the best fit of the title by putting it in the middle of the two columns. This can be easily done using the Merge & Center.

To make the title of the table center aligned,

❶ First select the two cells two merge.

❷ Then press the ALT key.

At this point, you will see the hints of keyboard shortcuts that have appeared like the image below:

Shortcut for Merge & Center in Excel: cell selection

The Merge & Center command is located under the Home menu. So,

❸ Press the key H to select the Home menu.

❹ Then press M to go to the Merge & Center group.

Shortcut for Merge & Center in Excel: Merge & Center command under HOME Menu

After pressing the M key, you will see four more options regarding Merge & center.

❺ Press C to apply the Merge & Center command to the selected cells.

All Shortcut keys for Merge & Center in Excel

So the shortcut keys for the Merge & Center are ALT > H > M > C. After selecting the cells you have to press those keys one after another. When you hit the final key which is C, you will see the title text has become center-aligned like this:

Read More: How to Combine Cells Using Excel Formula (6 Methods)


2. Shortcut for Merge Across in Excel

The Merge Across command can merge all the cells within a single row. But the problem with the Merge Across command is that while merging cells it only allows us to keep the content of the first cells among the selected cells.

So, to apply the Merge Across command using the keyboard shortcut, follow the steps below:

❶ Select the cells in a single row that you want to merge together.

❷ Then press ALT > H > M > A keys one after another.

Shortcut for Merge Across in Excel: cell selection

After that, a warning box like the image below will appear. It says, Merging cells only keeps the upper-left cell value and discards the other values. If you agree to the notice,

❸ Hit the OK command.

Shortcut for Merge Across in Excel: Warning dialog box

After that, you will see the selected cells have been all merged together like this:

Read More: How to Combine Two Cells in Excel (6 Quick Methods)


3. Shortcut for Merge Cells in Excel

If you want to merge cells vertically i.e. within a single column then you can apply the Merge Cells command.

This command only merges cells vertically but not horizontally. Anyways, to apply the Merge Cells command using a keyboard shortcut,

❶ First of all, select the consecutive cells that you want to merge together.

❷ Then press ALT > H > M > M keys one after another.

Shortcut for Merge Cells in Excel: Cell Selection

After that, you will see a warning box that says, “Merging cells only keeps the upper-left cell value and discards the other values.” If that’s alright with you then,

❸ Click on the OK command to proceed further.

Shortcut for Merge Cells in Excel: Warning Box

After that you will see the cells have been merged vertically like the image below:

Read More: Excel Shortcut to Merge Cells (3 Methods + Bonus)


How to Unmerge Cells

To unmerge cells where you have already applied the Merge & Center command, follow the steps below:

❶ Firstly, select the cell where you have already applied the Merge & Center command.

❷ Then press ALT > H > M > U buttons one after another.


All the Shortcuts Regarding Merge & Center

For your convenience, here are all the shortcut keys relating to merge & center that discussed in this article:

  • Merge & Center: ALT > H > M > C.
  • Merge Across: ALT > H > M > A.
  • Merge Cells: ALT > H > M > M.
  • Unmerge Cells:  ALT > H > M > U.

Add Merge & Center to the Quick Access Toolbar

For rapid and smooth workflow, you can add the Merge & Center command to the quick access toolbar. To do that follow the steps below:

❶ Go to the Home menu from the main ribbon.

❷ Under the Alignment group, you will see Merge & Center. Right-click on it.

❸ From the pop-up list, select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

Add Merge & Center to the Quick Access Toolbar for shortcut way

After that, you will see the Merge & Center icon has been added to the quick access toolbar. From now on you can apply the Merge & Center command from here.

Merge & Center in the quick access toolbar


Make a Custom Shortcut Key for Merge & Center Using VBA

You can make your own custom shortcut key to apply the Merge & Center command in Excel.

To do that, follow the steps below:

❶ First right-click on the worksheet name and select View Code. Or you can press the ALT + F11 key to open up the VBA editor.

❷ After that go to Module from the Insert ribbon.

❸ Then copy the following VBA code to the Excel VBA editor.

Sub MergeAndCenter()

With Selection

.HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter

.Merge

End With

End Sub

❹ Save the code and return back to the worksheet.

❺ Press ALT + F8 to open up the Macro dialog box.

❻ Select MergeAndCenter function and then go to Options.

Macro to Make a Custom Shortcut Key for Merge & Center Using VBA

After that, a new dialog box called Macro Options will open up.

❼ Set your preferred shortcut key. For instance, we have inserted CTRL + K.

❽ After that hit the OK command.

Macro Options to Make a Custom Shortcut Key for Merge & Center Using VBA

So your new shortcut key for the Merge & Center command is CTRL + K. Wherever you want to apply the Merge & Center command, just select the cells and then press CTRL + K keys together.

Read More: How to Combine Cells in Excel (4 Methods + Shortcut)


Things to Remember

📌 Always make the cell selection first before applying the Merge & Center command.


Conclusion

To sum up, we have discussed 3 shortcuts for merge and center in Excel. You are recommended to download the practice workbook attached along with this article and practice all the methods with that. And don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section below. We will try to respond to all the relevant queries asap. And please visit our website Exceldemy to explore more.


Related Articles

Mrinmoy Roy

Mrinmoy Roy

Hi! I'm Mrinmoy Roy. I'm an Excel and VBA content developer. I write blogs relating to Microsoft Excel on Exceldemy.com. I've completed my graduation in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology. I've expertise in Excel functions, formulas, Pivot Table, Power Query, Visual Basic, etc. I write blogs to lessen people's hassles while working on Microsoft Excel.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions PDF

 

 

ExcelDemy
Logo