Forum Discussion
Excel puzzle - can't type into cell, exhausted support steps, need a tech wizard !
Excel desktop app on Mac won't let me edit cells (Word is fine)
already tried a full uninstall/reinstall with support
MacBook Air, macOS Tahoma 26.2
- Microsoft 365 Premium subscription
- Excel for Mac, Version 16.111.1
Problem:
In the Excel desktop app I can navigate the sheet and select/highlight cells, but I cannot type into a cell or into the formula bar
Already tried with a Microsoft support agent:
1. Confirmed subscription is active
2. Removed the Office license from Keychain Access
3. Fully removed the Office apps, emptied the Trash.
4. Reinstalled Office from account.microsoft.com
5. Result: Excel still won't let me type in a cell or in the formula bar, even in a new book
6. "Allow editing directly in cells" enabled.
8. Confirmed the keyboard itself is fine: Cmd+C works inside Excel, types normally in TextEdit
9. Opened Excel in safe mode (held Shift while launching) and creating a new blank workbook — issue persisted.
Microsoft support agent confirmed this isn't a subscription/activation issue and isn't a general keyboard/OS issue, since Word, TextEdit, and Excel's own search box all accept input normally — the problem is specifically isolated to typing into a cell or the formula bar in Excel.
Any ideas on what else could be blocking keyboard input specifically in Excel's grid/formula bar (e.g. a stuck editing mode, add-in, or accessibility permission specific to Excel) would be ! VERY ! appreciated.
1 Reply
Typing fails in both the grid and formula bar even in a new workbook, while Excel’s search box and other Mac apps accept input. That rules out worksheet protection or a dead keyboard. Use Help > Check for Updates and install the newest Excel build, then compare the symptom with Microsoft’s Excel for Mac known-issues page. Quit Excel and temporarily disable Excel add-ins through Tools > Excel Add-ins; also remove any files from Excel’s startup folders, then relaunch. Holding Shift while opening Excel should not be treated as an add-in isolation test on macOS. Test Excel in a new user account. If typing works there, the cause is in the original user’s Excel preferences, startup content, or permissions, which reinstalling Office may leave behind. If it fails in the new account, capture a screen recording, Excel version, macOS build, input-source layout, and installed add-ins, then use Help > Contact Support.
