The Backspace key in Excel helps you delete text one character at a time—but only when you’re in edit mode, meaning you’re actively editing the content inside a cell.
Shortcut Key
Backspace – Deletes one character to the left of the cursor
What Happens When You Press BACKSPACE?
- Deletes one character at a time.
- Works only inside the cell (after pressing `F2` or double-clicking the cell).
- Useful for editing text or formulas manually.
Example:
Cell A1 contains:
2025 Sales
To remove characters:
- Double-click cell A1 or press `F2`
- Press `Backspace` → becomes `2025 Sale`
- Press again → becomes `2025 Sal`
… and so on
When to Use Backspace:
- To fix typos
- To remove part of a formula or word
- When you want to edit without clearing the whole cell
Important Note:
If you press Backspace while the entire cell is selected (and not in edit mode), the entire content of the cell will be deleted.