Arrow Keys Not Working in Excel? Here’s How to Fix It

Are you frustrated because the arrow keys are not working in Excel? Navigating your spreadsheet without them can be incredibly frustrating. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple and effective solutions to fix this issue so you can move through your data smoothly once again.

Whether it’s due to Scroll Lock being enabled, frozen panes, or a configuration glitch, these step-by-step methods will help you identify and fix the problem. These solutions are tried, tested, and proven by Excel users who faced the same issue.

With our guidance, you’ll quickly regain control over spreadsheet navigation and work more efficiently in Excel.

Disabling Scroll Lock in Excel

A common cause for arrow keys not working in Excel is the accidental activation of Scroll Lock on your keyboard. When Scroll Lock is enabled, pressing the arrow keys scrolls the entire worksheet instead of moving from cell to cell.

Here’s how to disable Scroll Lock and get your arrow keys working again:

✅ Check Your Keyboard

Look for a Scroll Lock (ScrLk) key on your keyboard.
If your keyboard has an indicator light, check if it’s on—this means Scroll Lock is enabled.
Simply press the Scroll Lock key to toggle it off.

🖥️ Use the On-Screen Keyboard

If your keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated Scroll Lock key, don’t worry—you can use Windows’ On-Screen Keyboard:

Click the Start Menu and type “On-Screen Keyboard” in the search bar.
Launch the On-Screen Keyboard.
Look for the “ScrLk” button.
Click it once to disable Scroll Lock.

Once disabled, try using the arrow keys in Excel again—they should now work as expected.

How to Turn Off Scroll Lock in macOS

If you’re using Microsoft Excel on a Mac and the arrow keys aren’t working, Scroll Lock might still be the issue—even though Mac keyboards typically don’t have a Scroll Lock key.

To fix this, you can use an AppleScript to simulate a Scroll Lock keypress. Here’s how to do it:

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide

Open Launchpad, search for TextEdit, and open it.
Go to File > New to create a blank document.
Copy and paste the following AppleScript code into the document:
- tell application "Microsoft Excel" activate end tell tell application "System Events" key code 107 using {shift down} end tell
Press Command + S to save the file.
Name the file something like FixExcelKeys.AppleScript and make sure to select File Format: Plain Text (.txt) if prompted.
Open the Excel spreadsheet where the arrow keys aren’t working.
Double-click the AppleScript file you saved.
In the Script Editor, click the Run button to send the Scroll Lock keypress to Excel.

Once run, this will effectively turn off Scroll Lock in Excel on your Mac, restoring the arrow key functionality.

💡 Note: This method applies specifically to macOS and Microsoft Excel. The AppleScript sends a key event that mimics the Scroll Lock command.

Enabling Sticky Keys in Windows to Fix Arrow Keys in Excel

If you’re facing issues with the arrow keys not working in Excel on Windows, enabling Sticky Keys may resolve the problem. Sticky Keys allows you to press one key at a time for keyboard shortcuts, which can help resolve issues with key functionality. Here’s how to enable it:

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide

Open Control Panel: Press Windows Key + R, type control, and hit Enter.
Navigate to Ease of Access: In the Control Panel, click on Ease of Access to access the accessibility settings.

Change Keyboard Settings: Under the Ease of Access Center, click on Change how your keyboard works.
Enable Sticky Keys: Scroll down to the “Make it easier to type” section and check the box that says Turn on Sticky Keys.
Save Settings: Click Apply, then click OK to confirm your changes.

By enabling Sticky Keys, you’ll be able to press keyboard shortcuts one key at a time, which can help resolve the issue of arrow keys not working in Excel.

Disabling Scroll Lock in Excel

If your arrow keys are not working in Excel, it’s a good idea to check if Scroll Lock is enabled. This feature can interfere with the movement of the cursor in Excel. To disable Scroll Lock, follow these steps:

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Scroll Lock

Open your Excel spreadsheet where you are experiencing the arrow key issue.
Right-click on the Status Bar at the bottom of your Excel window.
In the context menu that appears, click on Scroll Lock to toggle it off.

Disabling Scroll Lock should restore the functionality of your arrow keys in Excel, allowing you to navigate through your spreadsheet smoothly.

🔍 Troubleshooting Tip:

If you’re unsure whether the issue is specific to Excel or if it affects other applications, test the arrow keys in other programs. If the issue is isolated to Excel, then Scroll Lock is likely the cause.

Disabling Add-Ins in Excel

Sometimes, Excel add-ins can cause functionality issues, including problems with arrow keys. To troubleshoot, you can disable the add-ins in Excel. Here’s how:

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Add-Ins

Open Excel and go to the File menu.
Select Options from the left sidebar.
In the Excel Options window, click on Add-Ins from the menu on the left.
In the “Manage” drop-down menu at the bottom, select Excel Add-ins, and then click the Go button.
In the Add-Ins window, select all add-ins by checking their checkboxes.
Click on OK to disable the selected add-ins.
Close the Excel Options window and check if the arrow keys now function properly.

By disabling add-ins, you eliminate potential conflicts or issues they may be causing, and you can verify if the arrow keys are functioning correctly.

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