Excel selects multiple cells instead of one (cells are not merged)

Anonymous
2010-06-18T16:21:25+00:00

Excel selects multiple cells instead of one (cells are not merged) - When clicking on a cell, Excel will select multiple cells around the intended selection. Also, the number of cells automatically selected and position of the selection is random each time the intended cell is clicked on.

Shift + Arrow Keys will select correctly but is not practical to use every time.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-06-18T16:52:06+00:00

Might be EXT mode - touch F8 to clear this

Might be Sticky Keys - touch SHFT 5 times to clear this


gsnu201004

Was this answer helpful?

300+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-06-19T17:06:39+00:00

To expand on EXT mode:  Regarding EXT mode this is turned on or off in 2007 by pressing F8.  It is also called Extend Selection in 2007 or later and if the Selection Mode option has been turned on for Excel's status bar you will see "Extend Selection" displayed.  This mode can also be turned off by pressing Esc. 


If this answer solves your problem, please check Mark as Answered. If this answer helps, please click the Vote as Helpful button. Cheers, Shane Devenshire

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

51 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-10T18:54:09+00:00

    thank you.  worked.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-30T23:20:55+00:00

    Mike H. you are my hero.  my computer thanks you for saving it from being thrown thru my office window....so I guess my window thanks you too.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-08T22:44:03+00:00

    I am having this same problem in Excel 2010. I tried the ESC button, the Shift-F8 command, and the Zoom trick. The zoom seemed to work once but that was it. Sometimes clicking on and editing another page of the document or another document all together will fix it for awhile, but it comes back. Closing the document and re-opening it did not fix it either.

    The only thing that does seem to stop it is quitting the program and opening it up again. That is unacceptable when you are trying to get work done.

    What is going on and how do I get rid of it?

    I even turned off the Extend Data Range Formats and Formulas button in the options and restarted the program to see if that would work.

    Thanks for you help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments