I recently ran into an issue where my arrow keys in Excel stopped moving me from cell to cell, and it left me puzzled. It turns out this is a common problem, usually caused by a simple setting like Scroll Lock being enabled. I will walk you through the reasons why Excel arrow keys not moving cells and how to fix it quickly.
Key Takeaways:
- Scroll Lock is often the main cause of arrow keys not moving between cells in Excel.
- Check if the issue is specific to Excel or happens in other applications to rule out hardware problems.
- Disabling the Scroll Lock, either through the keyboard or the on-screen keyboard, usually fixes the problem.
- Arrow keys may stop working in Formula Entry Mode, requiring you to press ‘Enter’ or ‘Esc’ to exit.
- Disabling Excel Add-ins can solve conflicts that prevent arrow keys from functioning correctly.
Table of Contents
Checking for Active Scroll Lock
One of the main reasons the arrow keys might not function as expected is that the Scroll Lock is active. If Scroll Lock is enabled, it locks the scrolling functionality, so instead of moving from cell to cell, the entire worksheet moves. To check this, I look at the status bar in Excel, which, if visible, will display “Scroll Lock” when the feature is turned on.
If the status is not displayed on the status bar, I can right-click on the status bar and select the Scroll Lock option from the menu to toggle its visibility.
This simple check often solves the mystery behind the navigation issue.
Common Quick Fixes
Disabling Scroll Lock in Excel
Disabling the Scroll Lock is often the quick fix needed to get the arrow keys moving again in Excel. For Windows users, this is pressing the ‘Shift’ + ‘Scroll Lock’ (ScrLk) keys. If the keyboard lacks a Scroll Lock key, accessing the On-Screen Keyboard and clicking the ‘ScrLk’ button is another reliable method.
Meanwhile, for Mac users without a dedicated Scroll Lock key, the shortcut ‘Shift’ + ‘F14’ may do the trick. Note that it may vary by keyboard, so checking for the alternative combination with the ‘CONTROL’, ‘OPTION’, or ‘COMMAND’ keys is wise. Sometimes, connecting a USB keyboard with an ‘F14’ key is necessary.
By taking these steps, I enable proper cell navigation, facilitating efficient data manipulation without the hindrance of unintended scrolling.
Exiting Formula Entry Mode
When in Formula Entry Mode, typically after beginning a function with “=”, the arrow keys are repurposed to switch between cell references within the formula.
To fix this, I simply press ‘Enter’ to complete the entry or ‘Escape’ (Esc) to exit without making changes. If I’ve accidentally started a formula and wish to undo this, pressing ‘Enter’ followed by ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Z’ reactivates the arrow keys for spreadsheet navigation without leaving any unwanted formulas in cells.
Disable Excel Add-Ins That May Cause Conflicts
Excel add-ins enhance functionalities but can sometimes be the culprit for the arrow keys not functioning correctly. They may lead to software conflicts or overburden system resources, resulting in keyboard navigation issues. To alleviate such potential problems, I find that disabling these Add-Ins can be an effective solution.
Here’s the step-by-step process we might undertake to disable Excel Add-Ins:
STEP 1: Open Excel and go to File.
STEP 2: Go to Options > Add-Ins
STEP 3: In the ‘Manage’ box at the bottom, highlight ‘Excel Add-ins’ and click ‘Go…’.
STEP 4: In the successive dialog box, uncheck all active Add-Ins and click ‘OK’ to disable them.
FAQ
Why is my Excel cell not moving with arrows?
If your Excel cell is not moving with arrow keys, it may be because Scroll Lock is activated, or you could be in formula entry mode where Excel expects inputs for a function. Tapping ‘Enter’ or ‘Escape’ exits formula mode, and pressing the ‘Scroll Lock’ key or accessing this function via the on-screen keyboard toggles the Scroll Lock off.
How to unlock scroll lock in Excel?
To unlock Scroll Lock in Excel, press the ‘Scroll Lock’ key (often labeled as ‘ScrLk’) on your keyboard. If your keyboard doesn’t have this key, activate the on-screen keyboard via the Start menu or by searching ‘osk’, and click the ‘ScrLk’ button on the virtual keyboard to toggle it off.
Why have my arrow keys stopped functioning within a group of frozen rows and columns?
Your arrow keys may have stopped functioning within a group of frozen rows and columns because the panes freeze a part of your sheet, which may restrict navigation. Unfreezing these panes by going to the ‘View’ tab and selecting ‘Freeze Panes’> ‘Unfreeze Panes’ can restore arrow key function.
How can I exit Excel formula entry mode when my cursor doesn’t move?
To exit Excel formula entry mode when your cursor doesn’t move, you can simply press ‘Enter’ to complete the formula or ‘Esc’ to cancel and exit without making changes. For discarding an unintentional entry, press ‘Enter’ and then undo the action by pressing ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Z’.
John Michaloudis is a former accountant and finance analyst at General Electric, a Microsoft MVP since 2020, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office over at his flagship MyExcelOnline Academy Online Course.
30 Days - Full Access 
