Change legend names - Microsoft Support (2024)

Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013 More...Less

When you create a chart in Excel, it uses the information in the cell above each column or row of data as the legend name. You can change legend names by updating the information in those cells, or you can update the default legend name by using Select Data.

Note:If youcreate a chart without using row or column headers, Excel uses default names, starting with “Series 1.” You can learn more about how to create a chart to ensure your rows and columns are formatted properly.

In this article

  • Show the legend in your chart

  • Change the legend name in the excel data

  • Change the legend name using select data

Show the legend in your chart

  1. Select the chart, click Change legend names - Microsoft Support (1)Chart Elements plus sign in the upper-right corner of the chart, and then select the Legend check box.

  2. Optional. Select the > arrow to the right of Legend for options on where to place the legend in your chart.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (2)

Change the legend name in the excel data

  1. Select the cell in the workbook that contains the legend name you want to change.

    Tip:You can first click your chart to see what cells within your data are included in your legend.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (3)
  2. Type the new legend name in the selected cell, and press Enter. The legend name in the chart updates to the new legend name in your data.

  3. Certain charts, such as Clustered Columns, also use the cells to the left of each row as legend names. You can edit legend names the same way.

Change the legend name using select data

  1. Select your chart and on the Chart Design tab, chooseSelect Data.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (4)
  2. Choose on the legend name you want to change in the Select Data Source dialog box, and selectEdit.

    Note:You can update Legend Entries and Axis Label names from this view, and multiple Edit options might be available.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (5)
  3. Type a legend name into the Series name text box, and click OK. The legend name in the chart changes to the new legend name.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (6)

    Note:This modifies your only chart legend names, not your cell data. Alternatively, you can select a different cell in your data to use as the legend name. Click inside the Series name text box, and select the cell within your data.

    Change legend names - Microsoft Support (7)

Related Topics

Add or remove titles in a chart

Need more help?

Want more options?

Discover Community

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Change legend names - Microsoft Support (2024)

FAQs

Change legend names - Microsoft Support? ›

On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, select the legend entry that you want to change. Click Edit. Tip: To add a new legend entry, click Add, or to remove a legend entry, click Remove.

How do I change the legend labels in Excel? ›

On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, select the legend entry that you want to change. Click Edit. Tip: To add a new legend entry, click Add, or to remove a legend entry, click Remove.

How do I change series names in Excel? ›

Right-click the chart with the data series you want to rename, and click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, under Legend Entries (Series), select the data series, and click Edit. In the Series name box, type the name you want to use.

How do I change the label name in an Excel chart? ›

In the worksheet, click the cell that contains the title or data label text that you want to change. Edit the existing contents, or type the new text or value, and then press ENTER. The changes you made automatically appear on the chart.

How to create a legend in Microsoft Word? ›

Add a chart legend
  1. Click the chart.
  2. Click Chart Elements. next to the table.
  3. Select the Legend check box. The chart now has a visible legend.

How do I format figure legends in Word? ›

Select the object (table, equation, figure, or another object) that you want to add a caption to. On the References tab, in the Captions group, click Insert Caption. In the Label list, select the label that best describes the object, such as a figure or equation.

How do I manually change legend labels? ›

Select your chart and on the Chart Design tab, choose Select Data. Choose on the legend name you want to change in the Select Data Source dialog box, and select Edit. Note: You can update Legend Entries and Axis Label names from this view, and multiple Edit options might be available.

How do I change the legend label in sheets? ›

  1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
  2. Double-click the chart you want to change.
  3. At the right, click Customize. Legend.
  4. To customize your legend, you can change the position, font, style, and color.

How do I remove a legend title in Excel? ›

To hide the data table, uncheck the Data Table option.
  1. Click anywhere in the chart to show the Chart tab on the ribbon.
  2. Click Format to open the chart formatting options.
  3. In the Chart pane, expand the Legend section.
  4. Add or edit the Legend to meet your needs.
  5. Use the switch to show or hide the legend.

How do I change a series name? ›

How to rename a data series in Excel. On the menu displayed, click Select Data. In the Legend Entries, select the data series you want to rename, and click Edit. In the Edit Series dialog box, clear series name, type the new series name in the same box, and click the OK.

How do I change multiple names in Excel? ›

If you want to edit names of multiple columns at once, use the Rename At button found in the ribbon toolbar tab Variable. Clicking this button will show the function in the sidebar. If you click on it, the setting options will be displayed in the Properties Panel - Prefix, Suffix and Variables.

How to display series name in Excel chart? ›

Go to Layout tab, select Data Labels > Right. Right mouse click on the data label displayed on the chart. Select Format Data Labels. Under the Label Options, show the Series Name and untick the Value.

How do you format the legend in Excel? ›

Click Add Chart Element > Legend. To change the position of the legend, choose Right, Top, Left, or Bottom. To change the format of the legend, click More Legend Options, and then make the format changes that you want.

How do I change the label or title on a chart? ›

Add or edit a chart title
  1. Click anywhere in the chart to show the Chart tab on the ribbon.
  2. Click Format to open the chart formatting options.
  3. In the Chart pane, expand the Chart Title section.
  4. Add or edit the Chart Title to meet your needs.
  5. Use the switch to hide the title if you don't want your chart to show a title.

How do you edit a legend? ›

From the very right of the ribbon, click “Format Pane.” Once that pane is open, click on the legend itself within your chart. In your Format Pane, the options will then look something like this: Then, set that legend position to be whichever location you want.

How do I change the legend name on my Mac? ›

A1: To change a legend name in Excel on Mac, select the legend and then click the “Chart Elements” button. Then, click the “Legend” option and select “More Legend Options.” In the Legend Options window, enter the new name in the “Name” text box and click “o*k.” This will change the legend name.

How do I change the name of my trendline in legend? ›

Right-click the trendline. In the pop-up menu choose Format Trendline. In the dialog box that appears, choose the Options tab. Under Trendline name, select Custom and fill in the new name.

How do you change the legend text in origin? ›

Since the legend is a text object, you can edit it using methods common to all text objects: To open the Legend dialog box, press Ctrl + double-click on the graph legend text or right-click and choose Properties.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5680

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.