WPS Format Painter is a formatting copy tool in WPS Spreadsheets on macOS; this guide covers 2 core tasks, with 2 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 2 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Format Painter is a built-in formatting copy feature in WPS Spreadsheets for macOS. It lets you copy the format of a selected cell or range and apply it to another cell or range.
Core tasks include:
- Single-use Format Painter: copy formatting once and apply it to a target range right away.
- Repeated Format Painter use: keep Format Painter active and apply the same formatting to multiple ranges.
This feature is useful for daily report cleanup, shared spreadsheet formatting, and applying the same cell style across worksheets. It helps reduce repeated work when setting fonts, colors, borders, and fills.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Mac device that can run WPS Office for Mac normally |
| App version | The latest version of WPS Office for Mac is recommended |
| Network | No mandatory network connection is required for local Format Painter use; shared files may require a connection |
| Other | You need edit permission for the spreadsheet and access to open the file |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Open WPS Office for Mac, open a spreadsheet, and look for Format Painter on the Home tab |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Copies cell formatting such as font, color, border, and fill in spreadsheets; supports one-time use and repeated use after double-clicking. | Format Painter can copy formatting for text and graphics; one click applies it once, and double-click keeps it active for repeated use. | Paint format can copy formatting for text, cells, or objects in Docs, Sheets, and Slides; double-click keeps it active for multiple uses. | Notion supports text styling, Markdown, and keyboard shortcuts for formatting, but it does not provide a dedicated format painter tool. | Acrobat supports Copy with Formatting and content reuse for selected PDF content, but it is not a spreadsheet format painter workflow. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: direct spreadsheet entry for cell formatting work; Distinct: single-use and repeated-use modes are clear for batch cleanup. | Compared with WPS: Microsoft covers more object types in its help article, while WPS stays focused on spreadsheet cell formatting workflows. | Compared with WPS: Google relies on a browser toolbar and web workflow, while WPS fits a desktop spreadsheet editing flow more directly. | Compared with WPS: Notion focuses on block and text styling rather than batch copying cell formats across spreadsheet ranges. | Compared with WPS: Adobe focuses on PDF content reuse and formatted copying, not direct spreadsheet formatting across cells. |
| Official Source | — | Use the Format Painter | Copy and paste text and images | Style and customize your page | Reusing PDF content |
Overall Conclusion
If your main goal is to keep spreadsheet formatting consistent across cells and ranges, WPS Format Painter provides a direct workflow on macOS. Its one-time and repeated-use modes are practical for routine spreadsheet cleanup and batch formatting work.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main issue | How it helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standardizing report styles | Admin, finance, and operations users | Different areas use inconsistent formatting | Use single-use Format Painter to copy a standard style quickly |
| 2 | Cleaning up shared spreadsheets in batches | Team collaborators | Multiple cells need the same formatting repeatedly | Double-click Format Painter and apply the format to several ranges |
| 3 | Applying styles across worksheets | Spreadsheet editors | Recreating the same style on different sheets takes time | Copy the format, then switch worksheets and apply it |
| 4 | Fixing inconsistent visual layout | Students, teachers, and office users | Fonts, borders, and fills do not match | Select a well-formatted source cell and paint the target range |
| 5 | Reusing template formatting | Template maintainers | New sections need to match an existing layout | Copy the format from a template cell to new ranges |
Membership & Benefits
Format Painter itself is available without membership in this guide; this section outlines general differences between free access and paid plans, plus subscription options.
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Format Painter use | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB or more depending on plan |
| Templates | Basic templates | More templates and extended benefits |
| PDF and advanced tools | Basic features | More advanced tools |
| AI-related features | Some features are limited | Some plans include more usage allowance |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet editing with occasional Format Painter use | Free plan | Format Painter itself is available for regular spreadsheet work |
| Need more cloud storage, templates, or additional office features | WPS Premium | Better suited for users who also need broader plan benefits |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page