How to stop excel from putting equal sign automatically (on Mac)

[Linh_10]

I copy some data from word pad to excel and it's supposed to be 2 columns separated by blank. Anyhow, excel decides to put an equal sign in front of each line and does the maths itself. Thanks very much but I don't need these extra steps. How can I disable this function of excel on Mac?

Many thanks.

L

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@Linh_10 

To prevent Excel on Mac from automatically adding an equal sign and performing calculations when you paste data, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Excel on your Mac.
2. Click on "Excel" in the top menu bar.
3. Select "Preferences."
4. In the Preferences dialog, click on "Edit."
5. Uncheck the option labeled "Automatically create calculated columns."
6. Close the Preferences dialog.

Now, when you paste data from WordPad or any other source into Excel, it should not automatically add equal signs and perform calculations. Your data should be pasted as plain text without Excel trying to interpret it as a formula.

Keep in mind that disabling this option means that you'll need to manually enter formulas if you want Excel to perform calculations. If you copy and paste data that contains actual formulas, you will have to re-enter them as needed. The text was created with the help of AI.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

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[#3]

thank you so much @NikolinoDE