How to Use WPS Format Painter on Windows

Use WPS Format Painter through 3 how-to topics, all available without membership; you can copy formatting once, apply it repeatedly, or open it from the right-click floating toolbar.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Use Format Painter once

Entry: Home tab → Format Painter

1. Select the cell whose formatting you want to copy, or select formatted text inside a cell.
2. Click Format Painter on the Home tab.
3. When the pointer changes to a brush shape, click or drag across the target area.
4. After the format is applied, Format Painter exits automatically.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The pointer changes to a brush shape after Format Painter is enabled.
• What you can do next: The target area shows the same formatting as the source area.
• No side effect: The original content in the target area is not replaced by source content.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: Clicking Format Painter before selecting the source cell means there is no source format to copy.
• Scope: Format Painter copies formatting attributes only, not content or formulas.

2. Use Format Painter continuously

Entry: Home tab → Format Painter

1. Select the cell or text that contains the formatting you want to reuse.
2. Double-click Format Painter on the Home tab.
3. Click or drag across multiple non-adjacent target areas to apply the same formatting repeatedly.
4. When you finish, press Esc or click Format Painter again to exit.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: Format Painter stays active after one application.
• What you can do next: You can continue applying the same formatting to multiple areas.
• No side effect: You do not need to reselect the source cell before each target area.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: A single click enables one-time use only; double-click is required for repeated use.
• Exit method: Press Esc or click the button again after finishing to avoid applying formatting to the wrong area.

3. Use Format Painter from the right-click floating toolbar

Entry: Right-click menu → Floating toolbar → Format Painter

1. Select the cell or in-cell text whose formatting you want to copy.
2. Right-click to open the menu and floating toolbar.
3. Click the Format Painter icon on the floating toolbar.
4. Click or drag across the target area to apply the formatting.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The floating toolbar shows a Format Painter entry after you right-click.
• What you can do next: The target area receives the source formatting successfully.
• No side effect: You can complete the task without switching back to the Home tab.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: Clicking elsewhere immediately after right-clicking closes the floating toolbar, so you need to open it again.
• Suggested use: This method is useful during local edits when you want faster access without moving back to the ribbon.