Forum Discussion
Referenced cells do not identify themselves with color
For some reason when I create a formula that references other cells, I cannot get those cells to "identify" themselves with a specific color. For example, in the image below the formula references cells B7, B8, B6, etc but they are just black text and don't show up in color per standard excel documents. Usually they "glow" with a specific color so you can find them easily in big spreadsheets. How do I get the colors back?
You are entering formulas referencing B6:B8, but Excel is not using colored reference outlines or tokens. Those colors appear only while a formula is being edited in the desktop worksheet, so select formula cell and press F2 or click formula bar; selecting the completed cell will not show edit-time references. Make sure the formula begins with = and test =B6+B7+B8 in a new workbook. If colors work there, the issue is workbook- or add-in-specific. If they remain black everywhere, confirm that you are using desktop Excel rather than Excel for the web, then disable add-ins and restart Excel. Test the default Office theme and Windows contrast settings, because accessibility color choices can affect visual cues. Repair Microsoft 365 from Installed apps if the behavior persists. There is no supported worksheet setting that permanently colors references after you exit formula edit mode; that highlighting is an editing aid, not stored formatting.
2 Replies
Doing the Repair from Installed apps ended up resolving the issue. Thanks!
You are entering formulas referencing B6:B8, but Excel is not using colored reference outlines or tokens. Those colors appear only while a formula is being edited in the desktop worksheet, so select formula cell and press F2 or click formula bar; selecting the completed cell will not show edit-time references. Make sure the formula begins with = and test =B6+B7+B8 in a new workbook. If colors work there, the issue is workbook- or add-in-specific. If they remain black everywhere, confirm that you are using desktop Excel rather than Excel for the web, then disable add-ins and restart Excel. Test the default Office theme and Windows contrast settings, because accessibility color choices can affect visual cues. Repair Microsoft 365 from Installed apps if the behavior persists. There is no supported worksheet setting that permanently colors references after you exit formula edit mode; that highlighting is an editing aid, not stored formatting.
