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How to remove text indicator (') in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

In Excel, text indicators (') may appear in cells, causing issues with calculations or formatting. This guide provides simple methods to quickly remove these text indicators using formulas, the Text to Columns feature, or the Kutools for Excel tool.
A screenshot showing text indicators in Excel cells and the removal results

Remove text indicator with formula

Remove text indicator with Text by Columns

Remove text indicator with Kutools for Excel (one click)good idea3

Remove text indicator with formula

To remove the text indicator from a string, you just need one simple formula.

Select a blank cell to output the result. Type the formula =VALUE(A1), press Enter key, and drag the fill handle over the cells where you want to apply this formula.
A screenshot showing the result of using the VALUE formula to remove text indicators in Excel

To remove text indicators from date cells, format them as Date after applying the formula.

Remove text indicator with Text by Columns

In Excel, the Text to Columns feature also can remove the text indicator.

1. Select the cells you use, and click Data > Text to Columns.
A screenshot showing the Text to Columns feature in the Excel Data menu

2. In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard dialog, keep the Delimited option selected, and directly click Finish.
A screenshot of the Convert Text to Columns Wizard in Excel

The text indicators are now removed from the selected cells.

A screenshot of dates with indicators in Excel before using Text to Columns Arrow right A screenshot showing Excel cells after text indicators have been removed

If you want to save the results in other cells, click Next > Next in the Convert Text to Columns Wizard dialog to go to last step, next select one cell to output the result, and then click the Finish button.
A screenshot showing the final step in the Convert Text to Columns Wizard for saving results in a different cell

Remove text indicator with Kutools for Excel (one click)

If you have Kutools for Excel, its Convert Text to Formula utility can quickly remove the text indicator from each cell in selection.

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Select the cells with text indicators, click Kutools > Content > Convert Text to Formula. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Convert Text to Formula option in Kutools tab in Excel

The text indicators have now been removed.

A screenshot of numbers and dates with indicators in Excel before removal Arrow right A screenshot showing Excel cells after using Kutools to remove text indicators

If you want to add the text indicators back, apply Kutools > Content > Convert Formula to Text.

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