5 Fixes for Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working in Microsoft Excel for Windows
Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.
Fix 1: Use the On-Screen Keyboard
First, you must perform a few keyboard shortcutsusing the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) on Windows. This will help you determine if the problem is with Microsoft Excel or your keyboard.
Step 1:Open your Excel spreadsheet.
Step 2:Press theWindows + Skeyboard shortcut to access the search menu. Typeon screen keyboardin the box and hitEnter.
Step 3:In the On-Screen Keyboard window, click theCtrlkey, followed by theAkey, and check if Excel selects all the cells.
Similarly, you can perform a few keyboard shortcuts using the On-Screen Keyboard. If they work as expected, you may need totroubleshoot your keyboardor replace it.
Fix 2: Enable Sticky Keys
Excel keyboard shortcuts may fail to work if you don’t press the keys together quickly enough. In that case, enable Sticky Keys on Windows. That will let you use keyboard shortcuts by pressing one key at a time.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app, then go toAccessibility > Keyboard.
Step 2:Turn on the toggle forSticky keys.
Fix 3: Check Assigned Macros
Macros in Excel are recorded actions or scripts that you can assign to specific keyboard shortcuts. Your assigned macros may be conflicting with the built-in Excel shortcuts. To fix this, delete any conflicting macros.
Step 1:Open your Excel sheet and switch to theViewtab. Click onMacrosand selectView Macros.
Step 2:In the Macro dialog box, identify any macros causing conflicts. Select it > click onDelete.
Fix 4: Open Excel in Safe Mode
A faulty add-in may be disrupting Excel processes and preventing your keyboard shortcuts from working. To check for this possibility, use Excel in safe mode, where it runs without your add-ins.
Press theWindows + Rkeyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog. Typeexcel -safein the text box and pressEnterto open Microsoft Excel in safe mode.
After Excel opens in safe mode, use any keyboard shortcut. If it works, you can be certain that one of your add-ins is causing the problem. To identify the problematic add-ins, disable all add-ins and enable them one by one.
Step 1:In Excel, click onFileat the top-left corner.
Step 2:SelectOptionsat the bottom-left corner.
Step 3:Head to theAdd-instab and selectCOM Add-insin the Manage drop-down menu. Then, click theGobutton.
Step 4:Clear all the boxes to disable your add-ins and clickOK.
Re-enable your add-ins one at a time until the problem occurs again. Once you find the add-in causing the issue, consider removing it.
Fix 5: Run the Office Repair Tool
If nothing works, try running Microsoft’s Office repair tool on Windows. It will automatically detect and fix any issues with all Office programs, including Excel.
Step 1:Press theWindows + Rkeyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Typeappwiz.cplin the box and pressEnter.
Step 2:Locate and select the Microsoft Office suite. Then, click onChangeat the top.
Step 3:SelectOnline Repairand clickRepair.
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Last updated on 05 June, 2024
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