13 Fixes for Can’t Scroll in Microsoft Excel
Some users face a weird issue where can’t scroll in Microsoft Excel. This can impact the sheet or even the complete workbook. Some reasons behind you not being able to scroll in Excel include active scroll lock, frozen panes, misconfigured scroll settings, and interfering add-ons. Try these fixes to resolve the locked scrolling error in Microsoft Excel.
Table of Contents
1. Check If You Can Scroll Elsewhere
Firstly, you must check if the scroll problem occurs in the Excel app only or if is it a system-wide issue. Minimize Microsoft Excel and openFile Exploreror aweb browser. Open a website and try to scroll with the mouse wheel. If you may scroll everywhere else except Microsoft Excel, then try the next method.
2. Terminate and Restart Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excelcan encounter a glitch and stop working properly. So, terminate the app and restart it. Here’s how:
1.Press theCtrl + Shift + Esckeys at once to open theTask Manager.
2.Find Microsoft Excel in the list and right-click on it. Select theEnd Taskoption.
3.Press theWindowskey, typeExcel, and pressEnterto launch the app.
4.Open any file and check if you can scroll now.
3. Inspect the Shift Key
If you press the Shift key and then try scrolling in Excel, it won’t work. So, stop pressing the shift key, if you are doing it unintentionally. Also, check the Shift key to see if it isn’t stuck.
4. Turn Off the Scroll Lock
After checking the Shift key, check if the Scroll Lock is active or not. Some keyboards do not have an indicator to signify if the key is active or not. So, press the Scroll Lock key on your keyboard to disable it. Alternatively, you can also display the scroll lock status in Excel. Here’s how:
1.Open the file in Excel.
2.Navigate to the bottom ribbon and right-click on it. Click on theScroll Lockoption.
Now, you will see the scroll lock status in the bottom ribbon whenever it is active. You can use it as an indicator to disable it via the keyboard.
5. Unfreeze Panes in the View Settings
Frozen panes can prevent you from scrolling in Excel. If that is the case, you must Unfreeze Panes in the app. Here’s how to do it:
1.Go to the top bar in Excel and click on theViewtab.
2.Click on theFreeze Panesoption to expand the section. Then click on theUnfreeze Panes.
3.Now, try to scroll using the mouse and check if it works.
6. Check the Scroll Bar Status
Excel has both horizontal and vertical scroll bars and if you don’t see them in the app or they don’t work as intended, you must tweak its settings. Here’s how:
1.Go to the top bar and click on theFilebutton.
2.Click onOptionsin the left sidebar at the bottom.
3.Now, click on theAdvancedoption.
4.Scroll down and locate theDisplay options for this workbook:section.
5.Click on theShow horizontal scroll bar checkbox to enable it. Then, click on theShow vertical scroll barcheck box to enable it as well.
6.Now, click on theOKbutton to apply the changes.
7. Tweak Zoom Settings
If you have accidentally enabled an IntelliMouse setting in Excel, it will zoom the file instead of scrolling. So, you must disable the setting in Excel settings. Here’s how:
2.Click onOptions.
4.Locate theEditing optionssection.
5.Click on theZoom on roll with IntelliMousecheckbox to uncheck it. Then, click on theOKbutton.
6.Close the Settings window.
8. Change Mouse Wheel Properties
Many users found a workaround where changing the mouse wheel properties helped them to scroll one screen at a time in Excel. Here’s how to do it:
1.Press theWindows key + Rto open theRun dialog box. Typecontrol main.cpl,,3in the text box and pressEnter.
2.Click on theOne screen at a timeoption.
3.Now, click on theApplybutton and then click on theOKbutton.
4.Check if you can scroll now.
9. Reopen Excel File Without Add-ons
Oftentimes a VBA, macros, or anExcel add-oncan cause problems with some files. So, you must launch Excel in safe mode and then open the file while effectively disabling all of these elements. Here’s how:
1.Completely close Excel using the Task Manager.
2.Press theWindows key + Rto open theRun dialog box. Typeexcel /safein the text box and pressEnter.
3.Excel will launch in safe mode now. Browse and open the file you were facing an issue with and check if the scrolling problem persists or not.
10. Repair the File
If the Excel file or workbook is corrupt, you may try repairing it. Here’s how:
1.Launch Excel and click on theOpenoption.
2.Browse your PC for the file and click on it to select it. Then click on thearrowicon next to theOpenbutton and select theOpen and repairoption.
3.Click on theRepairbutton.
Wait for the file repair to complete. It will automatically open in a new window.
11. Update Microsoft Office
An outdated and buggy installation ofMicrosoft Officecan also cause issues with one or more of the apps. So, you must manually update the app. Here’s how:
1.Open any Microsoft Office app (Excel, Word, or any other). Click on theAccountoption.
2.Click on theUpdate optionsicon. Then click on theUpdate Nowoption.
The utility will check for updates and install the latest one.
12. Repair Microsoft Office
If updating Microsoft Office didn’t fix the issue or you are already using an updated build, you must repair the current installation. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindowskey, typeappwiz.cpl, and pressEnter.
2.Find Microsoft Office in the list and right-click on it. Select theChangeoption.
3.Click on theRepairbutton to perform a quick repair and fix common issues with the app.
- Closethe Control Panel and relaunch Excel to see if the problem occurs again.
13. Reinstall Microsoft Office
The last resort is to reinstall Microsoft Office on your PC. It will remove the buggy installation and corrupt files and then install a fresh copy of the app. Here’s how:
2.Find Microsoft Office in the list and right-click on it. Select theUninstalloption.
3.Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the program from your PC.
4.Redownload and install Microsoft Office on your PC. Check and see if the issue is fixed or not.
Scroll Freely in Excel
We hope you are able to scroll in Microsoft Excel now. Meanwhile, you may also use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move from one cell to another. It may not be as fast as using a mouse wheel but gets the job done as you will be effectively scrolling up and down the sheet.
Abhishek Mishra
Abhishek likes to tinker with operating systems and is always hunting for apps that can improve his Windows and Android experience. He devotes his spare time to keeping track of the latest developments in anime and cinema. But he occasionally goes for short rides if the weather is forgiving enough.
