Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Merge and Center Not Available.
Paul has a worksheet in which he wants to apply Merge and Center to a selection. However, the tool is continually grayed out on his worksheet and Paul can't figure out why. He wonders if there is some combination of formats or settings that disables the tool.
Actually, there are two conditions that can cause the Merge and Center tool to be unavailable. You should check, first, to see if your worksheet is protected. Second, you should check to see if the workbook is shared. Both protection and sharing have been discussed in other issues of ExcelTips, and both of them happen to disable Merge and Center. (Actually, they disable a lot of other commands in addition to Merge and Center.)
If you turn off sharing (if it is on) and disable protection (if the worksheet is protected), then the tool should once again be available.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (5398) 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: Merge and Center Not Available.
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2018-07-19 01:29:25
Alex
Byron Injeeli, you're a gem! Thank you that worked
2018-03-14 06:30:42
lk
Friends! I think i have got the solution. After right click on Table>Convert to Range, I am able to see Merge & Center option and after converting into normal range, the DESIGN TAB in the toolbar also disappear. But i am confused where was the problem lies in the table. Please guide me if anybody knows.
2017-02-02 05:24:56
Nilufar
When i cut smth or copy or doing formula in excel, cells are not merging. why?
2017-01-02 09:07:37
tim szada
When I use the merge and center tool, many cells turn black. What can I do to fix this? Thanks
2016-11-08 14:55:34
martin alleyne
Is it possible to enable the merge and center icon with it being shared. It needs to be edited by more than one individual.
2016-08-22 03:53:10
Thalgott
Hi there. Unfortunately it didn't work, the sheet was neither protected nor shared. Any other solution? Thanks
2016-05-27 10:05:41
Amy
Byron Injeeli's comment WORKED -- thanks!
2015-12-16 14:07:23
Yannis
This solved my problem!!!
Excel 2011 for MAC
I guess this is a bug
Any idea how to keep the Merge button on on shared files??
2015-09-23 07:38:48
roy
Thanks, that solved it for me.
2015-09-09 04:19:23
thank you very much
2015-08-23 11:01:17
shankar patil
go to Design, then click convert to range. it worked for me and Thank you byron
2015-07-14 23:36:24
arezoo
Thank you Byron Injeeli, Your solution worked.
2015-03-05 18:14:56
trina
cell/sheet protection will also grey it out.
unprotect sheet to make changes, then protection can be put back on.
2015-01-21 17:06:41
Lana
Ny excel sheet is not protected nor is it shared. Merge and center is still grayed out on tool bar. any suggestions.
2014-10-21 04:03:08
Amey Gawade
My sheet is not protected nor is it shared. I am still unable to access merge & center. --
Any advice?
2014-08-18 11:52:12
Byron Injeeli
I think I found a solution: go to Design, then click convert to range. That might work.
-- Byron Injeeli
2014-08-18 11:45:48
Byron Injeeli
I got this strange error too. Can't figure out how to solve it.
-- Byron Shelley Injeeli
2013-10-21 22:45:40
Elisabeth
thanks. it's work.
2013-08-29 19:38:16
Laura Melton
My sheet is not protected nor is it shared. I am still unable to access merge & center. --
Any advice?
2013-05-06 19:56:10
Doug Watson
Sheet not shared or protected. formatting the same in all cells. justification upper left all cells desired to merge. Merge and center still greyed out.
Any ideas?
Doug
2012-10-24 22:35:18
ganesh
thank you
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
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