To rename an Excel worksheet, double-click its sheet tab, type the new name, and press Enter. You can also right-click the tab and choose Rename, or use the keyboard sequence Alt+H, O, R. Excel rejects names that break its worksheet naming rules, so check the limits if your new label won’t stick.
Rename a worksheet in Excel
Microsoft lists these methods for Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, Excel 2021, Excel 2019, and Excel 2016:
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- Double-click the sheet tab: Double-click the worksheet tab at the bottom of the workbook, type the new name, and press Enter.
- Use the context menu: Right-click the sheet tab, select Rename, type the new name, and press Enter.
- Use the keyboard sequence: Press Alt+H, then O, then R. Type the new name and press Enter.
The first option is direct; the second makes the Rename command explicit, and the third offers a keyboard alternative. Microsoft presents them as options without comparing their speed or usability. Microsoft’s worksheet-renaming instructions cover the listed desktop versions. A separate Microsoft help article also describes the double-click and context-menu methods.
Excel worksheet naming rules
A worksheet name must be nonblank and no longer than 31 characters. It cannot contain /, , ?, *, :, [, or ]. It also cannot begin or end with an apostrophe, or be named History, which Microsoft identifies as reserved.
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For example, 02/17/2016 is invalid because it contains a slash; 02-17-2016 is allowed. If Excel rejects a name, check its length and characters, then make sure it does not start or end with an apostrophe or use the reserved name.
Choose clear worksheet names
Use concise, descriptive labels that distinguish each sheet’s contents, such as “Monthly sales” or “Inventory.” Microsoft notes that screen readers read worksheet names and recommends clear, descriptive labels; unique names also make navigating the workbook easier. Microsoft’s Excel accessibility guidance explains this naming advice.
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The desktop renaming instructions above are documented for the listed Excel versions. They do not establish the exact steps for every web or mobile edition. Microsoft’s accessibility guidance describes a mobile-specific option: tap and hold a sheet tab, then select Rename. Check the instructions for your edition if its interface differs.
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