Fix Text Numbers in Excel: 3 Ways to Convert Text to Numbers

Download the sample file here: https://www.excel-university.com/yt_grbimdgiodk/ If your SUM formula returns zero, your "numbers" might actually be stored as text. Learn three quick fixes to convert text to numbers in Excel and get your formulas working again. In this video, you'll learn how to spot text-formatted numbers using Excel's green alert triangles and the "Number Stored as Text" warning. From there, you'll see three practical conversion methods: the built-in Convert to Number shortcut, the VALUE function for formula-based conversion, and the Paste Special Add trick for bulk fixing an entire range at once. This is one of those sneaky Excel problems that can waste a lot of time if you don't know what's causing it. Whether you're working with data imported from another system, a CSV file, or a database export, text numbers are a common culprit behind formulas that seem broken but aren't. All three methods are fast, reliable, and work across most modern versions of Excel. The VALUE function approach is especially useful when you want to build the conversion directly into your formulas without modifying the source data. Try these techniques the next time your totals don't add up, and subscribe for more practical Excel tips. 0:00 Introduction 0:20 Exercise 1: Error Alert Conversion 1:31 Exercise 2: The VALUE Function 2:56 Exercise 3: Paste Special Add 3:38 Summary and Recap