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Text to Column in Excel Shortcut

ExcelExcelSplit by delimiterChecked 2 Nov 2026

Text to Columns

AltAE

Press one after another

Flash Fill

CtrlE

Formula (Excel 365)

=

=TEXTSPLIT(A2,",")

The text to column in Excel shortcut is Alt, then A, then E. Select the column holding the combined text, such as full names or addresses, then tap those three keys in turn; the Convert Text to Columns wizard opens and splits each cell into several columns.

For simpler splits, Ctrl + E runs Flash Fill: type the first part you want in the next column, press it, and Excel copies the pattern down. Excel 365 also has TEXTSPLIT, a formula that splits text and updates automatically.

Quick facts

  • Text to Columns

    Alt, then A, then E

  • Flash Fill

    Ctrl + E

  • Select column

    Ctrl + Space

  • Insert empty columns

    Ctrl + Shift + Plus

  • Formula split

    =TEXTSPLIT(A2,",")

Text to column in Excel shortcut, step by step

  1. Insert empty columns to the right of the data with Ctrl + Shift + Plus, so nothing gets overwritten.
  2. Select the column with Ctrl + Space and press Alt, then A, then E.
  3. Choose Delimited and click Next.
  4. Tick the delimiter, such as Comma, Space or Other with a character like a slash.
  5. Click Next to set each column's format, then Finish.

The preview at the bottom of the wizard shows the split before you commit, so you can try different delimiters safely.

Delimiter in Excel shortcut options

Common delimiters
DataDelimiter to tick
Rahul,Sharma,DelhiComma
Rahul SharmaSpace
12/05/24 style datesOther, then type /
Values copied from a web pageTab
INV;2045;PaidOther, then type ;

Tick Treat consecutive delimiters as one when there are double spaces. For fixed layouts, such as account numbers where the first four digits are the branch, choose Fixed width and click to place break lines instead.

Flash Fill and TEXTSPLIT

Flash Fill suits names and codes. If column A has Priya Nair, type Priya in B2, move to B3 and press Ctrl + E; every first name fills in. Then do the same for surnames in C. It does not update when the source changes. TEXTSPLIT in Excel 365 does: =TEXTSPLIT(A2," ") spills the parts into the cells to the right, and changes when A2 changes. Use TEXTSPLIT for live reports and the wizard for one time clean ups of imported data.

Format phone numbers and PIN codes as Text in step three of the wizard, or Excel drops leading zeros.

Join columns back together

The reverse job uses a formula: =A2&" "&B2 joins first and last names with a space, and TEXTJOIN joins many cells with one delimiter, such as =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:D2). Flash Fill works in this direction too: type the combined result once and press Ctrl + E. After joining, convert the formulas to fixed values before deleting the source columns; see paste special in Excel.

When the split goes wrong

Problems and fixes
ProblemFix
Data overwrote the next columnPress Ctrl + Z, insert empty columns, try again
Dates turn into wrong valuesSet the column format to Date with the right order in step three
Leading zeros lostSet those columns to Text in step three
Flash Fill guesses wronglyType two or three examples before pressing Ctrl + E
A sales coordinator receives a list where one column reads City, State, PIN. She inserts two empty columns, presses Alt, then A, then E, picks Comma and sets the PIN column to Text, keeping every code intact.

Frequently asked questions

What is the text to column in Excel shortcut?
Alt, then A, then E.
How do I split text by comma in Excel?

Text to Columns, Delimited, tick Comma.

What is Flash Fill?
Ctrl + E, which fills a pattern from your example.
Is there a formula to split text?

Yes, TEXTSPLIT in Excel 365.

How do I keep leading zeros when splitting?

Set the column format to Text in step three.

How do I join columns back?

Use =A2&" "&B2 or TEXTJOIN.