Forum Discussion
Shift-F2 in Excel 2025 does NOT go into edit mode as expected
I have a workbook which I have very comments in it. In Excel 2013 on the old computer, whenever I pressed "Shift-F2", it would go into edit mode with the cursor in it. Now that I am in Excel 2025 (Desktop version as I refuse to become a renter of MS with it's 365 product regardless how hard they push and disable certain functions such as the "STOCKHISTORY" function will NOT work in desktop version of Excel, only in 365 version as MS wants everyone to rent from them so as they have that continuous stream of income with them getting a third or more of the product total cost annually, which when I build my systems, the systems are expected to last a minimum of 5 years and possibly up to 10 years. Yeah, yeah, many people say they are outdated within 18 months, but when I build the systems, the specs are high enough the system doesn't become obsolete that quick. Why then would I want to pay 1/3 of the product price annually when I can pay for the total product just once for a minimum of a 10 year time frame? Rarely is there much of a difference from one version to the next version, so I don't see the point in it.)
Anyhow, all the Shift-F2 does is show the comment. I have to actually click into the comment to go into edit mode with Excel 2025 vs. with Excel 2013, I didn't have to do that. I could instantly use my keyboard to edit the comment. I hate the idea of constant switching back and forth between the keyboard and mouse. That's because as those in data entry knows, that is wasted time when you have to constantly be switching between the keyboard and mouse to get things done.
6 Replies
Odd, for me (M365), Shift F2 opens the comment with the cursor right after the last character. As it has been doing for decades in all sorts of Excel versions and computers. There must be something wrong with your setup. Do you have any keyboard affecting software such as Autohotkey, or PowerToys installed?
It seems the Freeze Panes feature is impacting it in 2025 version of Excel. Columns A-C and Rows 1-6 are frozen in place, and only the comments that are either in Columns A or B, and/or in rows 1-6 does NOT go into edit mode, which then I have to click on one of the lines of the actual comment, not below the comment within the comment text box to have it go into edit mode.
It is neither issue. Not sure were my previous reply went to, but anyhow, it seems as though it is impacted by the Freeze Panes feature, which I didn't have that issue in 2013 desktop version. With Anything above and to the left of Cell D7 marked as Frozen Panes, comments in Columns A or B, and comments in Rows 1-6 does NOT go into edit mode, but yet, comments in any other cell including in column C (which I suspect that's become the comments in Column C actually reveals itself in Column D when shown) below row 6 does go into edit mode when pressing Shift-F2.
It is neither of the 2 things stated in this thread, but I have noticed one other thing that adds to it. I have freeze pane in effect (when you have cell D7 as the active cell and mark it to freeze panes for both horizontally and vertically) to where the first 3 columns and the first 6 rows are kept in place. The comments in Column C can be edited, but the comments in Column B can NOT go into edit mode without clicking into the box and where you click can NOT be below the last line of text. Anything dealing with Column C and on to the right, I have been able to get it to go into edit mode via the Shift-F2. However, any comment in rows 1 - 6 also will NOT go into edit mode as if it has something to do with the freeze panes that is preventing it from going into edit mode.
A yes. I forgot frozen panes can negatively affect the display of Notes. Thanks for the reminder Dodgester
In Excel's Options→Advanced→Editing Options, check Allow editing directly in the cell to restore the Shift+F2 function.
