WPS Format Painter is a formatting tool in WPS Spreadsheet on macOS for copying and applying cell or text formatting; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | 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 tool in WPS Spreadsheet for macOS. It helps you copy the formatting of a source cell or selected text and apply the same appearance to another target area.
Its main capabilities include:
- One-time format copying for a single target area.
- Repeated format copying after double-clicking the tool.
- Quick access from the right-click floating toolbar.
This feature is useful when you need to standardize report layouts, align table styles, or reuse emphasis formatting across multiple cells. It copies formatting only and does not copy cell content or formulas.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Mac device that can run WPS Office for macOS normally |
| App version | The latest version of WPS Office for macOS is recommended |
| Network | No mandatory network connection is required for local Format Painter actions; internet access is needed for download and installation |
| Other | You need to be able to open and edit spreadsheet files |
Download & Installation
Install WPS Office for macOS before using Format Painter.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Open WPS Spreadsheet, then confirm that the Format Painter entry is available on the Home tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In WPS Spreadsheet on macOS, Format Painter can be opened from the Home tab or the right-click floating toolbar, and it supports both one-time and repeated format application. | Microsoft Support says Format Painter can copy formatting such as color, font style, size, or border style, and it supports single-click for one use and double-click for repeated use. | Google Docs Editors Help says Paint format can copy the formatting of text, cells, or an object, and double-clicking lets you paste formatting in multiple places. | Notion Help explains text styling, colors, Markdown, and page-level formatting controls, but the help page does not describe a separate format painter tool. | Adobe Acrobat supports actions such as Copy with Formatting for selected PDF content, but its workflow focuses on PDF text and content reuse rather than a spreadsheet format painter tool. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: WPS provides a spreadsheet-focused format copying workflow with both ribbon access and a right-click floating toolbar entry. Distinct: single-click and double-click modes support both one-time cleanup and repeated formatting across separate ranges. | Compared with WPS: Microsoft documents the Home tab workflow and repeated use, but the cited page does not describe a right-click floating toolbar entry. | Compared with WPS: Google supports paint format in web-based Docs Editors, while WPS provides a desktop spreadsheet workflow centered on cell formatting. | Compared with WPS: Notion focuses on styling and page formatting controls instead of a dedicated format painter process. | Compared with WPS: Adobe covers formatted copying in PDFs, not a spreadsheet-oriented format brush for cells and ranges. |
| Official Source | — | Use the Format Painter | Copy and paste text and images | Style & customize your page | Reusing PDF content |
Overall Conclusion: WPS Format Painter fits everyday spreadsheet cleanup and style standardization well on macOS. Compared with page-writing or PDF-focused products, its workflow is more directly aligned with copying cell formatting across one or more spreadsheet ranges.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable For | Main Pain Point | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standardizing report headers | Finance, admin, and operations users | Header cells use inconsistent formatting | Select a well-formatted header cell first, then apply Format Painter to the remaining headers |
| 2 | Formatting multiple highlighted ranges | Data organization users | Several non-adjacent areas need the same fill, border, or font style | Double-click Format Painter and apply the same style to multiple target ranges |
| 3 | Reusing emphasis formatting in text | General office users | Important text inside cells needs the same visual emphasis | Copy the style from formatted text and apply it to other text selections |
| 4 | Working from the right-click menu | Mouse-first users | Switching back to the top ribbon interrupts the workflow | Open Format Painter from the floating toolbar in the right-click menu |
| 5 | Keeping styles consistent across sheets | Multi-sheet workbook users | Different worksheets do not share the same visual style | Copy the source formatting, switch sheets, and apply it to the target area |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
Format Painter itself is available without membership. The WPS Office pricing page shows broader differences between the free plan and paid plans, including cloud storage and additional advanced capabilities.
| Capability | Free Users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Format Painter use | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| More advanced PDF, template, and extended tools | Some features are limited | More benefits are available depending on plan |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | Higher-capacity options are available on listed plans |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage Scenario | Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet cleanup and format consistency | Free | Format Painter itself is available without membership and covers routine formatting work |
| Users who also need more cloud storage or broader advanced tools | WPS Premium | A paid plan is more suitable when your work also depends on expanded office benefits beyond basic formatting |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page