To turn a Word table into ordinary text, select the table or the rows you need, then choose Table Layout > Convert to Text. Pick a separator such as tabs or commas and select OK. Word puts the separator between cells and a paragraph break between table rows.
Convert a table to text in desktop Word
- Open the document and select the whole table or the rows you want to convert. Clicking inside the table shows the contextual table tabs, but selecting the rows ensures you convert the intended area.
- Choose the table-specific Layout tab (sometimes shown as Table Layout or Table Tools > Layout), then choose Convert to Text in the Data group.
- In the dialog, choose what will separate the former columns: Tabs, Commas, Paragraph marks, or another character. Tabs are useful if you may turn the text back into a table; avoid commas when the cell contents already contain commas.
- Select OK. Inspect the resulting lines and save the document.
What happens to the rows and formatting?
The table structure is removed from the selected area. Word separates cells with the character you selected and separates rows with paragraph marks. Text remains, but table borders and cell layout no longer control it. Save a copy first if you may need the original table again.
If you cannot find Convert to Text
Make sure your cursor or selection is inside an actual Word table and use the table-specific Layout tab, not the document’s general Layout tab. Microsoft lists table-to-text as a desktop Word feature; if you are in Word for the web, open the document in the desktop app for this conversion.
Microsoft’s table-to-text instructions explain the separator choices. The Word feature comparison identifies the desktop-only table conversion commands.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com