Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 10, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Normally, Excel allows you to double-click on the divider bar between column heads in order to widen a column. For instance, if you need to widen column C, all you need to do is move the mouse so it points to the divider between column headers for column C and column D; the mouse pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. When you double-click, column C is widened to accommodate the widest information in its cells.
There are times when double-clicking to widen a column won't work, however. In particular, Excel won't widen a column in this manner if the worksheet is protected. (The obvious solution is to unprotect the worksheet.)
You also cannot double-click to widen if the column is formatted using the Wrap Text attribute. You can use any different method of widening the column, but you cannot double-click.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2583) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Double-Clicking to Widen Columns Won't Work.
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2016-11-01 14:33:36
Nancy F
Neither of these situations is my case and I still cannot widen with a double click. Any other ideas?
2016-01-30 10:06:20
Henry Noble
A simpler description of double-clicking the column divider is that it triggers AutoFit Column Width. So, it will shrink or expand a column.
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