Whether you’re working on a school project, a report for your job, or simply trying to create a neat table, merging cells in Google Docs can be a game-changer. It’s a simple yet effective tool that allows you to bring order to your tables and layouts, making your documents more visually appealing and easy to understand. In this article, we’ll take you through the straightforward steps to merge cells in Google Docs, helping you create clean and well-structured documents effortlessly. Say goodbye to messy tables and hello to enhanced document presentation!
What is Merge Cells in Google Docs
This feature of merging cells helps the user to combine some selected cells as one single cell in the table. We can choose the cells row-wise (horizontally) or column-wise (vertically). Whenever we choose the cells to be merged horizontally as a bunch of cells in a row, they get merged as a single column. Likewise, when the cells to be merged are in a column, they get merged as a single row.
Note: Merging cells can be done in any part of a table in Google Docs. The data within the cells are retained safely on merging.
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs Tables
Merging Cells in Google Docs by Right-Clicking the Table
Step 1: Launch Google Docs
Step 2: Open Google Document
Open a document in Google Docs with a table to merge cells, or create a new document in Google Docs and create a table.
Table in document
Step 3: Select the Cells to Merge
In the table in Google Docs, select the group of cells that you want to merge either horizontally or vertically.
Cells selected vertically in the table
Step 4: Right Click on Selected Cells and Select Merge Cells
Right-click on the selected cells. A dropdown appears. Select “Merge cells” in it.
The dropdown opens on right-clicking selected cells
Step 5: Preview Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged as a single cell in the table successfully.
Cells merged
How to Merge Cells of Table in Google Docs using Format Tab
Step 1: Launch Google Docs
Step 2: Open the Google Document
Open a document in Google Docs with a table to merge cells, or create a new document in Google Docs and create a table.
Document opened in Google Docs
Step 3: Select the Cells to be Merged
In the table in Google Docs, select the group of cells that you want to merge either horizontally or vertically.
Cells selected to merge
Step 4: Click on Format and Select Table
Go to the menu bar, and select the ‘Format’ tab. A dropdown appears. Select “Table” in it.
Click Format tab
Step 5: Select Merge Cells from the Drop-Down Menu
Another sub dropdown opens. Select “Merge cells” in it.
Select Format > Select Table >Select Merged Cells
Step 6: Preview the Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged as a single cell in the table successfully.
Selected cells merged
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs on Android
Step 1: Launch Google Docs App
Open the Google Docs app on your Android device.
Step 2: Open the document
Open the document in which the merging of cells in the table needs to be done.
Open the document
Step 3: Select the Cells to Merge
Select the cells you want to merge. Here we have selected three cells horizontally in the table.
Select the cells to merge
Step 4: Select Merge Cells Iocn
Now on selecting the cells from the table, a horizontal list of options appears on the bottom side of the app. Select the ‘merge cells’ icon which is present at the bottom of the app.
Select the merge cells icon at the bottom of Google Docs app
Step 5: Preview the Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged into a single cell in an Android device successfully.
After Merging cells
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs on iPhone
Step 1: Launch Google Docs App
Open the Google Docs app on your iOS device such as your iPhone.
Step 2: Open the Document
Open the document in which the merging of cells in the table needs to be done.
Open the document
Step 3: Select the Cells to Merge
Select the cells you want to merge. Here we have selected three cells vertically in the table.
Selecting the cells to merge
Step 4: Tap on Merge Cells Icon
Once you’ve chosen the cells, a horizontal list will show up at the bottom of the Application. Select the ‘merge cells’ icon which is present at the bottom rightmost corner of the app.
Select the merge icon at the bottom of the app
Step 5: Preview the Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged into a single cell in the iOS device successfully.
Merged cells
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs on Mac
Step 1: Open Google Docs in your browser and open the document
Open Google Docs in the browser and open the document in which the merge cells are to be done.
Step 2: Select the cells to merge
Select any cell in the table and drag row-wise or column-wise till all the cells to merge are selected. Now the selected cells are selected and highlighted.
Step 3: Select Merge cells
Right-click on the selected cells and a dropdown appears. Select ‘Merge cells’ in it.
Step 4: Preview Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged successfully in Google Docs.
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs on Chromebook
If you are a Chromebook user, merging cells in Google Docs is much easier.
Step 1: Open Google Docs in the browser and open the document
Open Google Docs in the browser and open the document in which the merge cells are to be done.
Step 2: Select the Cells to Merge
Start by selecting any cell in the table and drag row-wise or column-wise till all the cells to merge are selected. Now the selected cells are selected and highlighted.
Step 3: Select Merge Cells
Right-click on the selected cells and a dropdown appears. Select ‘Merge cells’ in the dropdown.
Step 4: Preview Merged Cells
Now the selected cells are merged successfully in Google Docs on Chromebook.
How to Remove Merge From Cells on Google Docs
Suppose we made a merge in the table, and now we may be thinking of undoing it. In such a case, it is possible to remove the merging of cells done in the table in Google Docs. By unmerging cells, the cells that have vanished become formed again in the table. Then the user can select the data and place it in the cells of their choice. Let us see how to remove the merging from cells in Google Docs below.
Unmerging Cells in Google Docs can be done by two methods:
- Unmerging Cells by Right Clicking,
- Unmerging Cells using Format tab.
How to Unmerge Cells by Right-Clicking on Google Docs
Step 1: Open Google Docs
Step 2: Open the document
Access the document where cell merging needs to be performed.
Step 3: Select the Merged Cells
Select by highlighting the merged data in the table.
Merged data selected in the table
Step 4: Select the Unmerge Cells Option
Right-click on them. A drop-down appears. Select “Unmerge Cells” in it.
Select ‘Unmerge cells’ in the dropdown
Step 5: Preview the Unmerged Cells
Now the cells that have vanished on merging before are formed again. It is visible in the table.
Note: The data which is merged still remains in the same cell as it is when merged.
Cells appeared again after unmerging
Step 6: The user can select the data of their choice and paste it into the cell they want it to appear in the table. Thus the merged cells are unmerged in Google Docs successfully.
Data placed inside the unmerged cells manually
How to Unmerge Cells using Format Tab
Step 1: Launch Google Docs
Step 2: Open the Google Document
Step 3: Select the Merged Cell
Selected merged cells in the table
Step 4: Got to Format and Select Table
Click the Format tab in the menu bar in Google Docs and a dropdown appears. Select ‘Table’ and another sub drop-down appears. Select ‘Unmerge Cells’ in it.
Format > Table >Unmerge Cells
Step 5: Preview the Unmerged Cells
Now the cells that have vanished before merging are formed again. It is visible in the table. But the data which is merged remains in the same cell as it is when merged.
Cells appeared again after unmerging
Note: User can select the data of their choice and paste it in the cell they want it to appear in the table. Thus the merged cells are unmerged in Google Docs successfully.
Data placed inside the unmerged cells manually
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to merge cells in a document in Google Docs using a desktop or a laptop. Merge cells are done on a table in Google Docs. We have discussed the two different and easy ways to merge cells from a table in Google Docs. In the first method, it is very quick. In the second method, we will use the Format tab from the menu bar in Google Docs. Also, we have discussed how to merge cells in Google Docs using Android and iOS devices. Then, we have discussed two different ways to unmerge the merged cells in Google Docs.
FAQs
What is the Shortcut key to merge cells in Google Docs?
Select the cells you want it merge. Press Alt+O >2>M.
Can cells be merged even though there is no data present in it?
Yes, cells can be merged even though the cells are empty in a table.
Can cells be merged both horizontally and vertically in the same table?
Yes, in the same table, cells can be merged in both vertical and horizontal direction.
What is the maximum number of cells that can be merged in table in Google Docs?
Any number of rows or columns within a table can be merged in Google Docs. There is no limit for selecting cells within a table in Google Docs.
How to Merge Cells in Google Docs without right-click?
Using the ‘Format’ tab in the menu bar of Google Docs, we can merge cells without right-clicking. Select the ‘Format’ tab in the menu bar, then dropdown appears. Select ‘Table’ in the dropdown. Another sub dropdown appears, select ‘Merge cells’ in it.
How to merge columns in Google Docs?
In Google Docs, start by selecting any cell in the table. Then select the columns to merge by selecting and dragging one cell covering each column. Then select and drag downwards until the cells you need to merge are selected. Now the cells to be merged are selected and highlighted. Right-click and select ‘Merge cells’. Now the columns are merged.