Instructions for removing table formatting in Excel

When you download an Excel file from the internet, the table format may not be suitable for your data table creation requirements. If so, you can clear the table format in Excel so that you can set up another format if needed. There are many ways to clear the table format in Excel, following the instructions in the article below.

How to remove Excel table formatting via the Design tab

Step 1:

You open the Excel table that needs to be formatted. Next, we highlight the table area that needs to be formatted and then click on the Design item above.

Step 2:

Next, in the Table Styles section , click on the arrow icon to display the menu of table styles. Now you will click Clear to delete the table style.

You will then see that the table style has been removed but the data formatting in the table is still retained.

How to remove Excel table formatting completely

When you completely delete an Excel table format, all table styles and formatting for the data in the table will also be completely deleted.

We will press Ctrl + A to quickly select the entire table . Next, click on the Clear icon in the corner as shown. Now you will see some options to clear Excel table formatting including:

• Clear Formats: Clear formatting without deleting data.
• Clear All: Clears all formatting, including clearing the data table.

Here we will click on Clear Formats to completely remove Excel table formatting.

Clear Excel table formatting using data area

Excel data areas will help you remove some special formats like data filter icons while still keeping the data in the table.

Step 1:

In the Excel table interface, right-click on any cell in the table and select Table in the displayed list , then select Concert to Range to switch to the data range format.

Step 2:

A pop-up will appear asking if you are sure you want to convert to zone format, click Yes to proceed .

As a result you will see the filter icon no longer displayed in the table.

Step 3:

Next, we click on the Clear icon and then select Clear Formats to clear the formatting in the Excel table.

How to remove Excel table formatting using VBA

When you run a VBA command, all customizations to the table are performed automatically, including removing table formatting.

Step 1:

We press the key combination Alt + F11 to open the VBA interface in Excel. Next, we right-click on the existing module, select Insert, and then click Module .

Step 2:

Display the interface to enter VBA code according to the content below.

Sub RemoveFormatAsTable()
    Dim tbl As ListObject

    ' Check if the active cell is within a table
    If ActiveCell.ListObject Is Nothing Then
        MsgBox "Active cell is not within a table.", vbExclamation
        Exit Sub
    End If

    ' Set tbl to the table of the active cell
    Set tbl = ActiveCell.ListObject

    ' Remove the table format
    tbl.Unlist

    MsgBox "Format as Table removed successfully.", vbInformation
End Sub

Continue pressing F5 to run the entered command. Now you see the interface as shown, we click on RemoveFormatAsTable in the interface and then press Run to run the command to remove the table format.

How to clear Excel table formatting on phone

You need to take a few extra steps to clear formatting in Excel on your smartphone or tablet. However, the process is still quite easy. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Highlight the areas you want to remove formatting from.
2. Click the three dots icon on the bottom toolbar.
3. Scroll down to Clear and select this option to display the list of options.
4. Click Clear Formats . The table contents will then return to the default.

After you clear your Excel table formatting, you can easily rearrange your spreadsheet if needed. And if you decide you don't want to clear your table formatting, you can always easily undo the process.