Excel not showing columns and rows properly.

Question

Excel not showing columns and rows properly.

David 60

See the Excel Screenshot 8-19-26

That's the right call at this point — you've ruled out add-ins, graphics drivers, display scaling, Office corruption (both repair levels), Excel's own settings, and even a cold reboot. This is genuinely a case for Microsoft's deeper diagnostics.

When you talk to them, it'll speed things up if you mention what's already been ruled out:

Blank/white grid area, column headers rendering in the wrong position (near the bottom instead of top)
Confirmed only Excel is affected — Word and PowerPoint render normally
Happens even on a brand-new blank workbook, not just existing files
Persists in Safe Mode
Already tried: graphics driver update, Windows display scaling reset, DPI/graphics driver restart (Win+Ctrl+Shift+B), Excel registry settings reset, Quick Repair, Online Repair, full cold shutdown/restart
Single external monitor, laptop closed (clamshell mode)

John Jefferson Doyon 87,160 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-20T02:16:47.4766667+00:00
Hi, @David

Thanks for sharing the troubleshooting steps you've already tried. From the screenshot, Excel's worksheet area is not rendering in the correct position. Since this also happens with a new blank workbook and in Safe Mode, it does not appear to be caused by the workbook or an Excel add-in.

Before escalating it further, there are two useful tests that can help narrow down where the problem is:

If you disconnect the external monitor and open the laptop, does Excel display normally on the laptop's built-in screen?

If possible, does the same problem occur when you sign in to a different Windows user account and open Excel there?

Those results would help determine whether this is related to the external display configuration or your Windows user profile.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

John Jefferson Doyon 87,160 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-20T02:16:47.4766667+00:00

Hi, @David

Thanks for sharing the troubleshooting steps you've already tried. From the screenshot, Excel's worksheet area is not rendering in the correct position. Since this also happens with a new blank workbook and in Safe Mode, it does not appear to be caused by the workbook or an Excel add-in.

Before escalating it further, there are two useful tests that can help narrow down where the problem is:

If you disconnect the external monitor and open the laptop, does Excel display normally on the laptop's built-in screen?

If possible, does the same problem occur when you sign in to a different Windows user account and open Excel there?

Those results would help determine whether this is related to the external display configuration or your Windows user profile.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 1

John Jefferson Doyon 87,160 Independent Advisor

Hi again, @David

Looking at your screenshot again, I noticed something I initially overlooked. The large white area appears to be the Formula Bar expanded almost to the bottom of Excel, which is pushing the worksheet and column headings down.

Please press Ctrl + Shift + U once and see if the worksheet returns to normal.

Let me know how it goes.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

David 60 Reputation points

2026-08-20T03:06:13.67+00:00

Yes, you are exactly right. I was using Claude in Excel and Claude caused the problem. After trying everything else, I poked around the bottom right of my monitor and was able to discern a place to grab and move up. Many thanks for your kindness in helping me.
John Jefferson Doyon 87,160 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-20T03:07:30.1366667+00:00

Glad to assist!

Answer 2

Hello @David

Given everything you've already tested, this no longer looks like a workbook-specific issue or a typical Excel add-in problem.

The key symptoms are a blank/white worksheet grid and column headers rendered in the wrong position, while Word and PowerPoint display normally. You've also confirmed that it happens with a new blank workbook and persists in Excel Safe Mode.

Since you've already tried graphics-driver updates, display scaling/DPI troubleshooting, resetting Excel settings, Quick Repair, Online Repair, and a cold restart, I wouldn't keep repeating those steps.

One additional test I'd recommend is to temporarily open the laptop normally and disconnect the external monitor completely, rather than running it closed in clamshell mode. This would help determine whether Excel's worksheet rendering is interacting incorrectly with the external display topology/DPI configuration.

I'd also check the exact Excel build under:

File > Account > About Excel

Then install any available Office updates under:

File > Account > Update Options > Update Now

Microsoft notes that recent Excel releases include fixes related to rendering and Freeze Panes behavior, so confirming the exact build is worthwhile.

If the problem remains on the laptop's internal display and you're already on the latest Microsoft 365 build, I agree that this has reached the point where Microsoft Support should investigate it as an Excel rendering issue. You've already eliminated most of the standard client-side causes.

When opening the support case, provide the screenshot, exact Excel version/build, Windows build, GPU/driver version, and mention specifically that:

The issue reproduces in a blank workbook and in Safe Mode after Online Repair, but other Office applications render normally.

That distinction should help prevent support from sending you through the same basic troubleshooting again.

Sharing these references with you:

Microsoft — Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working

Microsoft — Repair an Office application

Please "Accept the Answer" if this information helped you. This will help us and others in the community.

David 60 Reputation points

2026-08-20T03:11:46.6133333+00:00

The problem turned out to be that the area under the formula bar was extended way down the monitor. This happened in any file including a new blank spreadsheet. I was able to find a way to move it up. Now that I understand the problem, I could probably highlight the sheet and used Format Row Height. That was a problem when using Claude in Excel. Thanks very much for your help.