Excel shows numbers in lakhs and crores (like 12,34,56,789) because it uses your Windows region’s digit grouping. To switch to the international millions style (123,456,789) in Windows 10, open Control Panel > Clock and Region > Region, click Additional settings, and on the Numbers tab set Digit grouping to 123,456,789. Do the same on the Currency tab, click OK, and reopen Excel. If you only want to change one workbook, use a custom number format instead, as shown below.
Lakhs vs. millions at a glance
| Value | Indian format | International format |
|---|---|---|
| 100 thousand | 1,00,000 (1 lakh) | 100,000 |
| 1 million | 10,00,000 (10 lakh) | 1,000,000 |
| 10 million | 1,00,00,000 (1 crore) | 10,000,000 |
1 lakh equals 0.1 million, and 1 crore equals 10 million.
Method 1: Change digit grouping in Windows 10
- Close Excel.
- Press Windows key + R, type intl.cpl, and press Enter. (Or open Control Panel > Clock and Region > Region.)
- On the Formats tab, click Additional settings.
- On the Numbers tab, set Digit grouping to 123,456,789.
- Click the Currency tab and set Digit grouping to 123,456,789 there too.
- Click Apply, then OK twice, and reopen Excel.
This affects every app that uses Windows number formatting, not just Excel. Your Windows language and other settings stay the same.
Method 2: Use a custom number format in Excel
Use this to change only certain cells, or if you share a PC and don’t want to change Windows settings.
- Select the cells.
- Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells.
- On the Number tab, click Custom.
- Type a format in the Type box:
#,##0for 1,234,567 (uses your Windows grouping, so it may still show lakhs if the region is set to Indian format)#,##0.0,, "M"to show values in millions, like 1.2 M#,##0,"K"to show thousands, like 1,235K
- Click OK.
Each comma at the end of a format divides the displayed number by 1,000. The actual value in the cell doesn’t change.
Method 3: Convert lakh values to millions
If your numbers are written in lakhs (for example, 25 meaning 25 lakh), convert them with a formula:
- To millions:
=A2/10(25 lakh becomes 2.5 million). - From crores to millions:
=A2*10. - To full numbers:
=A2*100000.
Troubleshooting
- Excel still shows lakhs. Close and reopen Excel after changing Windows settings. If the cell has a custom format with Indian grouping like
##,##,##0, change it to#,##0. - The option to change separators is grayed out. Excel’s File > Options > Advanced > Use system separators controls the symbols, not the grouping style. Grouping comes from Windows.
- Other people see a different format. Their Windows region settings apply on their computers. Use a custom format with explicit units, like “M,” so numbers read the same everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work on Windows 11?
Yes. Open intl.cpl and follow the same steps.
Can I switch back to lakhs later?
Yes. Set Digit grouping back to 12,34,56,789 on the Numbers and Currency tabs.
Does this change the numbers in my file?
No. Only how numbers are displayed changes. The values stay the same.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.