I have the oddest problem, could not find anything like it online. After some recent update to Windows (i think it was after that) my Automatic Gridline - the default for Excel has turned to "white" See attached screenshot. It changed the existing as well as all new excel workbooks. And it has to be fixed for every sheet. This is annoying and cumbersome. I even tried Repair and Repair online but no difference. Please can someone assist in changing the Default back to black.

STajuddin It is for Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013 Excel 2010Change the color of gridlines in a worksheetBy default, gridlines are displayed in worksheets using the color that is assigned to Automatic.To change the color of gridlines, you can use the following procedure.More Information in the upper Link. Show or hide gridlines on a worksheetExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel for the web Excel 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Excel 2019 Excel 2019 for Mac Excel 2016 Excel 2016 for Mac Excel 2013 Excel 2010 Excel 2007 Excel for Mac 2011 Excel Starter 2010 It would be advantageous if the Excel version and the operating system are known, preferably with the file (without sensitive data) ... Helpers are helped so that they can give their time and attention to others as well. Hope I was able to help you with this info. NikolinoDEI know I don't know anything (Socrates)

NikolinoDE I am sorry I did not mention the version etc. but this was my first post, and there were no summarized guidelines.I am using Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2110 Build 16.0.14527.20234) 32-bit However, your response was of no help, as the solution you provided is the same I already mentioned in my question. My issue is I never set the Automatic to White, and I do not know how it happened, it is most likely due to some Windows or Office Update. It was all working fine till some week ago. And then the existing, and new Excel documents all turned blank as they were all set to Automatic and the Automatic was turned to a Default of White.Please help me switch this back permanently, as changing every worksheet is a real pain. Excel does not even let me select the Entire Workbook.

STajuddin You have probably not formatted the cells "without fill color", but with the background color white. Then Excel no longer shows gridlines.If you apply a fill color to cells on the worksheet, you will not be able to view or print the gridlines for those cells.If you want to view or print the gridlines for these cells, remove the fill color in the cells.Gridlines are always applied to the entire worksheet or workbook, not to specific cells or areas.If you want to selectively line certain cells or cell ranges, you should use frames instead of (or in addition to) gridlines. If it can't be that either, which I find hard to believe, then all I can do is type on the printer. It could then be due to the printer, if an update was recently carried out, it could have happened.You would have to delete the drivers and reinstall them.But think with the correction setting above, the problem should be solved. I know how hard and annoying it is when you suddenly have a problem,a problem out of nowhere ... well almost.But without specifying the exact environment (Excel version, operating systemand, if possible, a file (without sensitive data) with the problem), it is difficult to give help, even if you want to.At the same time, without precise information, it is annoying for youbecause you have the feeling that your problem is not being taken seriously.Please consider that it is just as much a problem for the helper,he does not feel valued for the help he offers and spends a lot of precious time understanding the problem. Time that could possibly benefit another with another problem. As I always say, without precise information, there are unfortunately no precise proposals for a solution and this costs time ... time for you and, above all, for those who want to help. Hope I was able to help you with this info. Thank you for your understanding and patience NikolinoI know I don't know anything (Socrates)

STajuddin Based on this quite old thread I lost the dark automatic color gridlines when I start Excel | MrExcel Message Board default Automatic color is based on Windows settings. I don't know where they are now, you may try to dig in this direction.

thanks for the guidance, my issue is fixed, my brightness and contrast were distorted due to some automatic update.

Default White Gridlines | Microsoft Community Hub

12 Replies

Scott_in_Colorado
Copper Contributor
Jun 26, 2026
Hello,
A few days ago I noticed that Excel 365 (version 2606 Build 16.0.02131.20086) 64 bit) running on my Windows 11 (Version 26H2 (OS Build 26200.8655)) desktop had lost all gridlines. Not what actually happened, but that is what I saw initially. What really happened was that now all my gridlines are white by default making every sheet I open (old or new) now blank white. Not sure what happened. I've researched this phenomenon for the last day trying all the fixes I could find:
Delete registry setting for Excel - Did not work
Go to File, Option, Advanced Options, Display Gridlines and modify the gridline color - works for each sheet only, huge pain.
Setup a template in C:\User\<name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART - Excel does not access that when I open a new file.).
Something changed and now EVERY Excel file I open (old or new) has white gridlines by default.
What have I done to fix this in addition to the above research I've done:
4.. I have done a full repair of O365 - same thing is happening.
5. Started Excel in Safe mode by holding Control key while dbl clicking Excel - same view - all white gridlines.

If anyone has any ideas I would be greatly appreciative.

Scott_in_Colorado
JaneWQuadsAU
Copper Contributor
Dec 13, 2022
This has been bugging me for about a month, and I read your original post online. I found it had also defaulted the Gridlines in Wordle to white as well.
Today (14 Dec 2022) I accepted a Microsoft update which took a really long time to download and install. Subsequently my gridlines have all returned to normal.
So I suspect this was an undocumented feature in a previous Windows update.
STajuddin
- STajuddin
  Copper Contributor
  Dec 14, 2022
  thank you JaneWQuadsAU Yes I think you are right, Windows 11 does not have this issue it seems
JimmyZ63
Copper Contributor
Feb 25, 2022
STajuddin I finally found a way to default all sheets to "visible" gridlines. I had the same sudden white gridline problem. I simply configured a worksheet using file/options/advanced to set the gridline color to dark gray (any color you like). Then save that workbook in the XLStartfolder (mine was located in users/username/apdata/roaming/microsoft/excel/xlstart as book1. Now when I start Excel .. it uses that workbook as a template.

Not sure why Microsoft has not figured out how to turn off the white gridlines???
- STajuddin
  Copper Contributor
  Feb 25, 2022
  JimmyZ63 Thank you. Mine seemed to be a configuration issue. But I shall save this for use in the future if I need it.
NikolinoDE
Platinum Contributor
Nov 09, 2021
STajuddin
It is for Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013 Excel 2010
Change the color of gridlines in a worksheet
By default, gridlines are displayed in worksheets using the color that is assigned to Automatic.
To change the color of gridlines, you can use the following procedure.
More Information in the upper Link.

Show or hide gridlines on a worksheet
Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel for the web Excel 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Excel 2019 Excel 2019 for Mac Excel 2016 Excel 2016 for Mac Excel 2013 Excel 2010 Excel 2007 Excel for Mac 2011 Excel Starter 2010

It would be advantageous if the Excel version and the operating system are known, preferably with the file (without sensitive data)
... Helpers are helped so that they can give their time and attention to others as well.

Hope I was able to help you with this info.

NikolinoDE
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
- STajuddin
  Copper Contributor
  Nov 09, 2021
  NikolinoDE I am sorry I did not mention the version etc. but this was my first post, and there were no summarized guidelines.
  I am using Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2110 Build 16.0.14527.20234) 32-bit
  
  However, your response was of no help, as the solution you provided is the same I already mentioned in my question.
  My issue is I never set the Automatic to White, and I do not know how it happened, it is most likely due to some Windows or Office Update. It was all working fine till some week ago. And then the existing, and new Excel documents all turned blank as they were all set to Automatic and the Automatic was turned to a Default of White.
  Please help me switch this back permanently, as changing every worksheet is a real pain. Excel does not even let me select the Entire Workbook.
  - SergeiBaklan
    Diamond Contributor
    Nov 09, 2021
    STajuddin
    
    Based on this quite old thread I lost the dark automatic color gridlines when I start Excel | MrExcel Message Board default Automatic color is based on Windows settings. I don't know where they are now, you may try to dig in this direction.

Forum Discussion

Default White Gridlines