How to Reverse Text in Excel
Sometimes you need a value backwards — reverse an ID, flip a "Last First" name into "First Last", or just scramble a label. Excel has no REVERSE function; here's how to do both the character reverse and the word-order reverse.
Last updated: August 2026
| Value | Reversed | |
|---|---|---|
| abc123 | → | 321cba |
| John Smith (words) | → | Smith John |
Method 1 — TEXTJOIN + MID (Microsoft 365)
To reverse characters: =TEXTJOIN("",1,MID(A2,LEN(A2)-SEQUENCE(LEN(A2))+1,1)). It's clever but opaque, only works on newer Excel, and does nothing for word order.
Method 2 — a VBA macro
The classic StrReverse(A2) in a macro reverses characters, but macros are blocked in many workbooks and don't run on Excel for the web or Mac the same way.
The 1-click way — Tellsheet
Reverse Text reverses every selected cell — characters (abc → cba) or word order (John Smith → Smith John). Character mode is Unicode-safe, so emoji and accented pairs aren't split. No formula, no macro, works on Windows, Mac, and the web. Previews first and is revertable. Pairs with Flip and Split Names.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reverse text in Excel?
The TEXTJOIN/MID formula on 365, or Tellsheet's Reverse Text in one click.
How do I reverse word order?
Reverse Text's word-order mode flips "John Smith" to "Smith John" directly.
Will it break emoji?
No — it reverses by code point, so emoji and accents stay intact.
Does it need macros?
No — it runs everywhere Tellsheet does, macros disabled or not.
Related Excel guides
Flip text either way in one click
Reverse Text reverses characters or word order — Unicode-safe — right inside Excel.
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