Can’t Scroll in Microsoft Excel? 8 Ways to Fix

You’ll be scrolling freely in no time flat

Are you having problems scrolling throughExcel spreadsheetswith your mouse, touchpad, or keyboard arrow keys? Does the issue affect all or specific sheets in your workbook? Is the scroll bar missing in your worksheets?

This tutorial covers several troubleshooting fixes for scrolling-related malfunctions in Excel on Windows and Mac computers.

1. Unfreeze Panes

The first row or column of your spreadsheet is likely frozen if it’s stationary when you scroll. Follow the steps below to release frozen panes in your worksheet.

Scroll down the spreadsheet with your mouse wheel or touchpad and check if the “Unfreeze Panes” feature fixed the issue.

Open Excel’sViewtab, select theWindowdrop-down menu, and chooseUnfreeze Panes.

2. Re-Enable the Scroll Bar

Spreadsheets in Excel typically have a horizontal and vertical scroll bar for easy navigation. If the scroll bars are missing in your spreadsheet, follow the steps below to enable them. If the scroll bars are frozen or don’t work, re-enabling them might fix the issue.

3. Disable Scroll Lock

Turning on Scroll Lock disables your computer’s arrow keys. If youcan’t scroll Excel sheets using the arrow keys, disable Scroll Lock and try again.

Look for a “Scroll Lock” ( or “ScrLk”) key or indicator light on your keyboard. If the key or indicator is lit, press theScroll Lockkey to turn off the feature and enable your arrow keys.

You can also disable Scroll Lock through your computer’s on-screen keyboard.

Use theWindows key+Ctrl+Okeyboard shortcut toturn on Windows On-Screen keyboard.

Alternatively, go toSettings>Accessibility>Keyboardand toggle on theOn-screen keyboard.

In Windows 10, go toSettings>Ease of Access>Keyboardand toggle onUse the On-Screen Keyboard.

Scroll Lock is active if the “ScrLk” key has a blue background. Deselect theScrLk keyto turn off Scroll Lock. You should now be able to scroll your Excel spreadsheet using the arrow keys.

4. Repair the Excel File

Not closing Excel correctly or shutting down your computer while Excel’s in use can corrupt your workbook. If you can’t scroll a worksheet after restarting Excel or your computer, repair the Excel file and try again.

Note:We recommend creating a backup copy of the Excel file before performing a repair.

Wait for Excel to perform validation checks for potential corruption. A dialog box displaying the file repair result should pop up when the operation’s complete.

5. Open Excel in Safe Mode

Corrupt or buggy add-ins can cause Microsoft Office applications to malfunction.Open Excel in safe modeif you suspect a bad orrecently installed add-inis responsible for the scrolling issue. Save the document you’re working on, force quit Excel, and reopen the app in Safe Mode.

Note:Microsoft Excel for macOS doesn’t have the Safe Mode feature.

On Windows computers,open the Task Manager, selectMicrosoft Exceland selectEnd taskon the top menu.

Press and hold theCtrl keyand select the Excel app icon. Keep holding the Ctrl key while Excel boots. SelectYeson the pop-up asking if you want to open Excel in Safe Mode.

You can also open Excel in Safe Mode through the Windows Run box.

PressWindows key+R, type or pasteexcel /safein the dialog box, and selectOK.

If you can scroll worksheet(s) in Safe Mode, disable all installed add-ins, and restart Excel. Re-enable the add-ins one after another and check which one prevents you from scrolling worksheets in Excel.

6. Disable “Zoom on Roll with IntelliMouse”

Moving the wheel on a physical mouse scrolls an Excel worksheet vertically. With a Microsoft-branded mouse orIntelliMouse, Excel zooms your worksheet instead.

Follow the steps below to stop Excel from zooming worksheets when moving the scroll wheel on an IntelliMouse.

7. Repair the Excel Application

Microsoft has a repair tool that diagnoses and fixes file corruption and other issues with Office applications in Windows. Save your files, close Excel, and follow the steps below to run the Office repair tool.

Reopen Excel after the repair and check if your worksheets are now scrollable. Connect your computer to the internet and run an online repair (see step #4) if you still can’t scroll your Excel worksheets.

8. Update Microsoft Excel

Installing Office updates canfix issues with Microsoft Exceland other Office applications.

If you use a MacBook, update Excel from the App Store or use theMicrosoft AutoUpdate tool.

Scroll Through Your Sheets

Reboot your computer, update its operating system, reinstall Excel, or contactMicrosoft Office 365 Supportif the issue persists.

Sodiq has written thousands of tutorials, guides, and explainers over the past 4 years to help people solve problems with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices. He also enjoys reviewing consumer tech products (smartphones, smart home devices, accessories, etc.) and binge-watching comedy series in his spare time.Read Sodiq’s Full Bio

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Can’t Scroll in Microsoft Excel? 8 Ways to Fix#

1. Unfreeze Panes#

2. Re-Enable the Scroll Bar#

3. Disable Scroll Lock#

4. Repair the Excel File#

5. Open Excel in Safe Mode#

6. Disable “Zoom on Roll with IntelliMouse”#

7. Repair the Excel Application#

8. Update Microsoft Excel#

Scroll Through Your Sheets#

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