How to add Zero in front of number in Excel and Google Sheets

If you try to write a number in Excel or Google Sheets that starts with zero (0), you cannot do so because of the default settings. In this case, you must follow this tutorial to enter zero before a number in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. No third-party add-on is required to do this.

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are two rescue tools that help you create a spreadsheet with different data. Like other tools, they also have limitations or problems. For example, users cannot write a number like this – 00123 or 000012 or something like that. It doesn’t matter which row or column you choose; you cannot enter such numbers in any of the tools. However, sometimes you may need to do this when writing a postal code, classification or anything else. For that, you need to follow these tips that we mentioned here. There are mainly two different ways to enter zero before a number in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.

How to add zero in front of the number in Excel and Google Sheets

To add a zero before a number in Google Sheets and Excel, follow these steps:

1. Use an apostrophe before writing a number
2. Change cell formatting

1]Use an apostrophe before writing a number

It’s the easiest method to get the job done, and you can use this technique in Google Sheets as well as Microsoft Excel. You have nothing to do but type an apostrophe before writing the numbers. For example, you want to write 00123 in a cell. To do this, you must select the cell and enter this – ‘00123.

It removes the default formatting from the cell and allows you to write the whole number with zero at the start.

2]Change cell formatting

If you have to write a large number of digits and the first method seems long, you have to change the formatting of the cells. That way it will allow you to write anything in plain text. To do this, select a cell or the entire column, go to Format> Number> Plain text.

You can now write the number you want. For your information, these steps apply to Google Sheets. If you are using Microsoft Excel, you should find the same options in a different location.

Make sure you are on the Home tongue. Now find the Number section and select Text in the respective drop-down menu.

From now on, you can type in any number you want.

The best thing about the second method is that you can choose different styles for different cells and keep adding different entries.