When I'm in Excel, select F1 to bring up the help column on the side, and the select a subject, I get a drop down menu of sub-topics to choose from. I select a sub-topic and click it, but the help never goes any further. I don't get any info about the topic I selected. The help function seems to be broken. How do I fix this?

Hi Scott, What version of Excel are you using? You can go to File > Account to check. Is this the Help pane you see: And if so, you're not able to get past that? Or do you see something different?

Actually, I'd hold off on a repair. I let our engineering folks know about it, and they're going to take a look. In the meantime, you can use Tell Me in any Office app (including web apps). But for future reference, if you do want to Fix & Repair, go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall > Microsoft Office > Change > Repair.

Excel 2016 build 1706. And yes, that's exactly what my help looks like. Correct. When I select a topic, nothing happens. I click on the search icon (magnifying glass) or hit enter, and nothing happens. And, I just checked Word, I have the same problem there. I bought M/S Office 2016 Home and Business.

Hi Scott, If you are in cell edit mode and press F1 the Help pane is locked, you can do nothing with it. It works only if you are not edit the cell. Same for Smart lookup. It was discussed here some ago, perhaps that's by design, don't remember the explanations. But i believe the issue shall be raised on user voice.

If "edit mode" means working within a cell, then no, I'm not in edit mode. I can bring up a brand new sheet with nothing on it at all and have the same result with Help. And, I have the same issue in Word, which I just discovered.Just to be clear, I'm talking about using the search bar and selecting a topic from the drop down on a subject I'm interested in. When I click on that sub-topic, nothing happens in Word or Excel.

Excel Help Does Not Work | Microsoft Community Hub

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Smitty Smith
Former Employee
Aug 04, 2017
Hi Scott,

What version of Excel are you using? You can go to File > Account to check.

Is this the Help pane you see:

And if so, you're not able to get past that? Or do you see something different?
- Scott Cox
  Copper Contributor
  Aug 05, 2017
  Excel 2016 build 1706.
  
  And yes, that's exactly what my help looks like.
  
  Correct. When I select a topic, nothing happens. I click on the search icon (magnifying glass) or hit enter, and nothing happens. And, I just checked Word, I have the same problem there.
  
  I bought M/S Office 2016 Home and Business.
  - Smitty Smith
    Former Employee
    Aug 05, 2017
    Thanks Scott,
    
    I've let our Newsroom know about the issue. They manage escalating issues like this, and will forward it to the right people.
    
    It will help if you can go to File > Account and let me know your build number. E.G. Version 1706 (Build 8229.2109 Click-to-Run)

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Excel Help Does Not Work

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