Are you looking for an easy guide to adding a new line in a cell using Google Sheets? The simple Google Sheets new line in a cell shortcut is to press Alt + Enter on Windows or Cmd + Enter on your Mac. It is a powerful tool used to improve your dataset’s readability.
Need a more in-depth explanation? Read on to learn more.
This Article Covers:
3 Ways To Add Google Sheets New Line in a Cell
There are multiple ways to add a new line in Google Sheets. Let’s take a look at them below.
How To Add Google Sheets New Line in a Cell With Shortcuts
I often add a new line in Google Sheets to prevent my cell’s content from overflowing. Thankfully, adding a new line is extremely easy. All you need to do is follow the step-by-step instructions below.
For this example, I used a dataset with full names and addresses on separate lines. I want the full names in the same cell, but I also want to insert a line break in Google Sheets between the first and last names. Here is how I would add the following line in Google Sheets using the keyboard shortcuts:
- First, I open the spreadsheet with my data.
- I click on the cell where I want to add the Google Sheets line.
- If the text cursor doesn’t show up in the cell containing the text, I can either double-click on the cell or click on the text in the formula bar.
- Now, I move the cursor to the area between the text where I want to add the new line in Google Sheets.
- I use the Windows keyboard shortcut Alt + Enter to add a new line.
- For MacOS, the shortcut to add a Google Sheets new line in a cell is Cmd + Enter.
- Press “Enter” to save the changes.
I can add multiple lines in Google Sheets by following the steps above. The row height will be automatically adjusted by Google Sheets accordingly.
Related: 101 Google Sheets Shortcuts for Your Keyboard
Google Sheets New Line in a Cell with Formulas
The same method can be used to add line breaks to make formulas more readable. Let’s look at a quick example where I want every formula parameter in a new line. Here is how to make text go to the next line in Google Sheets using formulas:
- I click on the single cell with the formula.
- I click on the area in the formula bar just below the toolbar.
- Now, I use the Alt + Enter or Cmd + Enter keyboard shortcut for Google Sheets to add a new line in the cell.
- Finally, I press “Enter” to save the formula.
Unfortunately, you can’t use a keyboard shortcut to add a line break in Google Sheets. However, you can use the following method to add a new line in Google Sheets via a mobile device (iPhone or Android).
Related: How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets
Want to learn how to add a new line in a cell using Google Sheets? Check out this 2-minute video now!
How To Make a New Line in Google Sheets Using Functions
I often need to add values from two or more cells into one empty cell. Adding a line break to the output can be very beneficial. In this section, I’ll show you how to do this in accordance with the CHAR function and the Ampersand (&) symbol.
In the example below, I have a dataset with full names where I want to add a Google Sheet return in cell characters. Let’s take a look at how to enter a new line in Google Sheets using the functions:
- First, I open the spreadsheet with the data to add the Google Sheets carriage return character.
- I click on the cell and head over to the formula bar.
- I first add a quotation mark ( “ ) to both string characters to make the formula work.
- In this example, Cassandra Sanchez will become “Cassandra””Sanchez”
- I will add the formula: an Ampersand (&), then CHAR(10).
- Then, I added another Ampersand (&) symbol between the names.
- The final formula looks like =”Cassandra”&CHAR(10)&”Sanchez”.
- Finally, press “Enter” to execute the formula.
Related: How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets
How To Start a New Line in Google Sheets Using Text Wrapping
Repeating the same process again and again to apply text wrapping can be time-consuming, especially when you have large datasets. Therefore, I recommend using the text wrapping function in Google Sheets instead because it is more efficient. Here is how to start a new line in Google Sheets with text wrapping:
- I select the cells to which I want to apply the text wrapping function.
- With the cell selected, I click the “Format” option in the main bar to open a drop-down context menu.
- I click on “Text Wrapping” and then on the “Wrap” option.
- This will apply the text wrapping to the selected cells.
Related: How To Insert Multiple Rows in Google Sheets
How To Press Enter in Google Sheets and Stay in the Same Cell
Keyboard shortcuts are quick and efficient when adding a new line in Google Sheets without moving to the following line.
To do this, click on the text box and move the text cursor to where you want to add the line break. Then, use the Alt + Enter on Windows or Cmd + Enter on MacOS. After that, you can press the “Enter” key to save the changes.
Wrapping Up
The crux of this Google Sheets new line in a cell article is simply using the keyboard shortcuts of Alt + Enter or Cmd + Enter to add lines. It offers flexibility to organize your datasets in separate cells. But feel free to use the other more complicated methods if you’d like.
Want to learn more about Google Sheets, its functions, and formulas? Look at this online course, packed with tips and tricks, mastering Google Sheets in 6 hours!
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