How to stop Excel from highlighting a range of cells when I click only one?

JerLee 

I can offer some more specific solutions to your problem:

1. Disable Extend Selection:

• Go to File > Options > Advanced.
• Under the Editing section, uncheck the box next to Extend selection.
• This will prevent Excel from automatically expanding your selection when you click and drag.

2. Check Conditional Formatting:

• Open the Home tab and click Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules.
• Look for any rules that apply to the entire row based on the values in any cell.
• If you find such a rule, try deleting it or modifying it to only highlight the specific cell(s) you want.

3. Verify Add-ins:

• Some add-ins, especially ones related to data validation or automation, can interfere with cell selection.
• Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
• Click COM Add-Ins and then Go.
• Uncheck any add-ins you suspect might be causing the issue and restart Excel.

4. Check Linked Names:

• If your cell has a linked name that applies to the entire row, this could be causing the highlighting.
• Right-click the cell and select Insert > Defined Name.
• Check if there's a name defined for the cell that includes the entire row (e.g., A1:A10). Delete it if you don't need it.

5. Reset View Settings:

• Sometimes, custom view settings like hidden rows or frozen panes can cause unexpected behavior.
• Go to the View tab and click Normal.
• If the problem persists, try closing and reopening the workbook.

Additional Tips:

• Hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the cell. This can sometimes prevent the highlighting and cursor jump.
• If you frequently need to select entire rows or columns, consider using keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys.
• Update your Excel to the latest version. Microsoft occasionally releases bug fixes that address selection issues.

If none of these suggestions work, it's possible that your specific workbook or data might be causing the issue. You can try creating a new blank workbook and see if the problem persists. If it doesn't, then something specific in your current workbook might be causing the unexpected behavior. You can then try copying your data into the new workbook or investigating further what might be triggering the issue.

I hope this helps!