How To Delete A Pivot Table In Excel Easily

How to Delete a Pivot Table in Excel Easily

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A pivot table is a powerful feature in Excel that allows users to quickly analyze large quantities of data.

However, we can’t avoid the possibility that we might have to delete it from our worksheets.

Deleting a pivot table in Excel is simple. Just a few clicks, and then we’re good. But before we proceed to our tutorial, let’s first have a brief understanding of a pivot table.

What is a Pivot Table?

A pivot table is an essential Excel function that allows users to arrange and summarize complex data quickly.

This feature allows users to group their data by columns, sort it by values, and calculate statistics. In addition to that, pivot tables are very useful when you have a large quantity of data.

How to Delete a Pivot Table in Excel

Time needed: 1 minute

Here’s a simple guide on how to delete a pivot table easily:

  1. Select the pivot table, then the PivotTable analyze tab.


    The first thing to do is to click anywhere in the pivot table, then click the PivotTable analyze tab.

    Click pivot table, then PivotTable analyze

  2. Click Actions > Select, then Entire PivotTable.


    Next, click the actions button > select, then select the entire pivot table.

    Click Actions, Select, then Entire PivotTable.

  3. Click anywhere, then press delete.


    Lastly, once the entire pivot table is selected, click anywhere on the sheet and press the delete key.

    Note: The reason why you have to click anywhere is that if you don’t, the delete key alone won’t work.

Note: The easiest way to delete a pivot table is to press Ctrl + A, then delete keys, or directly delete the sheet. However, if your device doesn't have a keyboard or your keyboard doesn't work, kindly follow the steps above.

Remove a Pivot Table in Excel but keep the data

Do you want to remove your pivot table but keep the data? Follow the steps below to achieve exactly what you want.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove a pivot table in Excel but keep the data:

Step 1: Click anywhere in the pivot table.

Step 2: Click the PivotTable analyze tab in the ribbon.

Step 3: Click the actions button > select, then choose the Entire PivotTable.

Actions, Select, then Entire PivotTable.

Step 4: Right-click in any cell of the selected table, then pick copy.

Right-click, then copy

Step 5: Click the Home tab > Paste option, then choose Paste Values (V).

Home, then Paste
Note: The steps above would delete the pivot table but keep the data. However, if a message box appears (see image below) after the last step is applied, do this alternative step:

Message Box

Upon clicking copy, select a cell where you want to place the data, and that's when you do the fifth step.

You can also use these keyboard shortcuts:

  • Click Ctrl + A keys to select all.
  • To copy the selected data, click Ctrl + C keys.
  • To paste, click Alt + E + S + V, then click OK.

Clear the data, but keep the pivot table

In this example, we’re going to clear the data in the pivot table but keep the pivot table. How do we do that? Here are the simple steps:

❶ Click anywhere in the pivot table.
❷ Click the PivotTable analyze tab in the ribbon.
❸ Click the actions button > clear, then select clear all.

Actions, clear, then clear all - How To Delete A Pivot Table In Excel

Note: If a message box appears (see image below) after clicking Clear All, kindly click the OK button.

Message Box Clear Data - How To Delete A Pivot Table In Excel

Conclusion

In conclusion, deleting a pivot table in Excel is an easy thing to do. You just follow the simple steps in this tutorial, and you’re good.

I think we’re done with this article. I hope you’ve learned something from this. Do not forget to share this with your friends.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below.

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