I cannot type in the cells or formula bar on my excel worksheets.

Question

I cannot type in the cells or formula bar on my excel worksheets.

Steven Page 0

I have tried all the fixes. the sheets are not protected. the drive has permissions. I've uninstalled and re installed Excel.

I cannot get anything of these fixes to work.

Steven Page 0 Reputation points

2026-09-11T13:11:13.9933333+00:00

I use office 365 on a Mac book, the windows fixes do not apply
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K Reputation points

2026-09-11T17:38:54.9833333+00:00

Please provide specific Version Numbers of both macOS & Office. Nearly all meaningful replies need at least that much information.

Note that reinstalling individual Office programs on a Mac rarely is a fix for anything.

1 answer

Your answer

Steven Page 0 Reputation points

2026-09-11T13:11:13.9933333+00:00

I use office 365 on a Mac book, the windows fixes do not apply
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K Reputation points

2026-09-11T17:38:54.9833333+00:00

Please provide specific Version Numbers of both macOS & Office. Nearly all meaningful replies need at least that much information.

Note that reinstalling individual Office programs on a Mac rarely is a fix for anything.

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for confirming that you use Microsoft 365 on a Mac.

Please create a new blank workbook and check whether typing works there. Also check whether Excel displays “View Only,” “Activation Required,” or “Your account doesn't allow editing on a Mac.”

If it does, sign out of Excel and sign back in with the account that owns your Microsoft 365 subscription. If editing is still blocked, use Microsoft’s License Removal Tool, restart the Mac, and reactivate Office:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/how-to-remove-office-license-files-on-a-mac

If no activation warning appears, please provide your macOS and Excel versions from Excel > About Microsoft Excel.

Best regards,

Tao Li