How to Fix Arrow Keys Not Working in Excel: Quick and Easy Solutions
A single workbook in Excel can be exceptionally large, with thousands of rows and columns. While the address bar offers a way to jump directly to a cell without scrolling, navigating a specific section of a sheet is often easiest with the arrow keys. If you’re facing issues with arrow keys not working in Excel, here are some quick and easy solutions to fix the problem and streamline your navigation.
5 Methods to Fix Arrow Keys Not Working in Excel
Excel is a complex app. It stands to reason that not every function in the app can be controlled with a keyboard. As far as navigation is concerned, the set of four arrow keys on a keyboard can be used to move between cells. If you have a number pad on your laptop keyboard or an external keyboard, you can use the arrow keys on it to navigate a workbook.
Discover quick and easy solutions to fix arrow keys not working in Excel.
If the arrow keys are not working in Microsoft Excel, and you’re unable to move between cells, try the fixes below.
1. Turn off scroll lock
Scroll lock, when turned on, can interfere with the navigation function of the arrow keys. To turn scroll lock off, look for the Scroll Lock key on the keyboard and press it. On the Apple Extended Keyboard, press F14. If that key exists on your keyboard but there is no Fn key, press Shift + F14 to toggle Scroll Lock off.
You may need to press the Fn key along with the Scroll Lock key to disable scroll lock, depending on your keyboard model.
To check if you’ve turned it off, open the Excel Workbook and look at the bottom bar. ‘Scroll lock’ should NOT show on it.
2. Enable sticky keys
This fix works in general but if you’re using the arrow keys on the number pad, this should be the definitive fix. On Windows or Mac, press Shift five times to toggle Sticky Keys on (or off).
Here’s the other way to do it on Windows:
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Ease of access.
- Look for Change how your keyboard works and select it.
- Enable Turn on sticky keys.
3. Change Excel settings
It’s possible you need to enable support for arrow keys in Excel. It can be turned off (though it’s normally on by default).
- Open Excel’s File > Options menu.
- Select the Advanced tab.
- Click the box next to Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop.
4. Press Enter or Esc
The formula bar, positioned directly above the cells, is one way you can enter data into Excel. If this box is selected, your arrow keys will only work within that box. This can seem like the arrow keys are not working in Excel when, really, they’re just not working where you want them to.
Press the Enter key to submit the formula and re-enable the arrow keys in the cells. Or, press Esc to cancel the current operation and refocus the mouse on the cells.
5. Wait a few more moments
Some formulas Excel runs can be very complex and take a long time to complete. There’s not much you can do but wait for it to finish. If it’s taking an extra long time, consider closing Excel and reopening it. This will stop the calculations and provide a new opportunity to confirm whether that was why the arrow keys were not working.
Conclusion
An Excel file can be big but if it has too much data in it, or it has macros, it will slow down. It isn’t optimized to work as a database though plenty of people use it as one. Try to open one Excel file at a time, running a file with macros disabled, and try to quit any app that may be using your system’s resources and slowing the file down.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I enable the cursor in Excel? To enable the cursor in Excel, press the Scroll Lock key on your keyboard if it’s been disabled; alternatively, ensure you’re in the correct cell by clicking it.
- Can you still use the arrow key function without arrow keys on your keyboard? Without arrow keys, third-party software can simulate the same functions. Apps like Microsoft PowerToys and AutoHotkey let you pick different keys to use as arrows.
- Can you use arrow keys to swap tabs in Excel?No, you can’t use arrow keys to swap tabs in Excel. However, you can use
Ctrl + Page Upto navigate to the previous sheet andCtrl + Page Downto move to the next sheet.
