Selecting a cell in Excel goes to an incorrect cell

Anonymous
2023-06-08T14:41:12+00:00

Issue reported multiple times for several years:

When selecting a cell in Excel, the cell selected is in a different location to where the user's cursor is. Issue leads to massive amount of lost productivity and causes serious errors in data.

Reported multiple times recently, no response from MS other than to report it to Feedback Hub (again).

The bug renders Excel totally unfit for purpose, for customers paying for it.

The bug should be fixed immediately, treated as high priority.

Steps already tried:

  • Regress Office version.
  • Rebuild laptop altogether.
  • Change laptop altogether.
  • Try Safe Mode.
  • Reset scaling to 100% on all monitors in use, and reboot.
  • General driver updates.
  • Try touchpad instead of mouse, change mouse.
Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | 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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-15T14:44:03+00:00

    Hello Joshua,

    Most users report forcing the grid to redraw fixes the issue -- at least temporarily. So try resizing the window.

    There could be a few issues here. We think that these problems are caused by some combination of Excel features that affect the grid layout, like freeze panes, grouping, or filtering, and hardware, like multiple monitor setups or trackpad gestures. Identifying consistent reproduceable examples in house to debug has unfortunately proved elusive.

    This forum is interesting for community discussion, but it's not too helpful in trying to get to the bottom of a problem like this. Please submit feedback through Excel.

    Thanks,

    Chris

    Ps Tom. I responded to your feedback. So you should have an email from me i.e. from Microsoft in your inbox (or junk mail folder!)

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-07T14:18:26+00:00

    Chris,

    Tom and I are having the issue. There is nothing custom about the spreadsheets and yes I am using it locally.

    To get it reproduce the problem:

    1. open a blank workspace (spreadsheet)
    2. click on View
    3. click on page layout
    4. add data anywhere
    5. click FILE-PRINT
    6. change the margins to something else
    7. set "No scaling" to "Fit all columns on page"
    8. go back to the spread sheet and add a full page of data so the screen scrolls.
    9. add header/footer information
    10. copy entire lines and "insert" them.
    11. add header/footer information

    At this point, if you click on the edge of a cell instead of the center, it will select a cell at the very top. Then if you select a cell somewhere else, the cell highlighted will be offset.

    WORK AROUND:

    Add another sheet to the workspace and then randomly click in the cells a few times. When you go back to the original workspace, it seems to correct itself.

    So consequently, when I'm working on a large spreadsheet, I have to add another blank sheet to occasionally switch to in order to remedy the issue.

    This is a very annoying problem and it only happens on office 365 version of excel.

    I hope this helps to narrow down the issue

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-16T12:25:34+00:00

    Hi Suzanne,

    Thanks for adding your experience, it all helps. No resolution. Microsoft have stopped responding, even on their own forums. I've contacted them via social media and they refuse to help. Without question the most disgusting customer support fail I've witnessed in all my years working in tech. To leave a product as important as Excel not fit for purpose, and then not even respond to customers in a professional manner, is quite despicable.

    Tom

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-28T15:15:24+00:00

    I already said, only two messages ago, I don't have permissions to change the channel or use the link you provided.

    You need to be confirming to me that the devs are working on this and you should supply a fix date. I understand you need to speak with higher authority to do this, please go ahead.

    This is a known issue affecting multiple users, I should not need to be asked to open a support ticket. The issue exists for several years, it's up to MS to replicate and fix it.

    I'm staggered, absolutely lost for words at how utterly shambolic and shameful this is.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-06-08T19:11:16+00:00

    Dear Tom Vanheems,

    Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you

    I have noticed that you have encountered this phenomenon many times, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to you. Since you've already tried a lot of suggestions, I'd like to gather the following information so that we can narrow it down further:

    • Does this occur in a particular workbook?
    • The version information of Excel you are using. (File - Account - version information)

    In the meantime, I wonder if you still experience this phenomenon if you use Excel Web version? If this phenomenon does not appear on the web side, you can temporarily use this method to carry out your work, so as not to delay your progress, while we will investigate this phenomenon.

    We look forward to your reply. Thanks for your cooperation.

    Sincerely,

    Tin | Microsoft Community Moderator

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