Mrinmoy Roy
The repeat last action feature in Excel allows users to quickly repeat the last action that they performed. This can be extremely useful when performing repetitive tasks, such as data entry. However, sometimes you might find that the repeat last action feature is not working at all. Well, in this article, you will learn 6 solutions to fix the problem- repeat the last action is not working in Excel with ease. So, without having any further discussion, let’s dive straight into the topic.
Repeat Last Action Feature in Excel
If you find yourself performing the same action over and over again in Excel, there’s a handy keyboard shortcut you can use to repeat that action.
To repeat the last action you took in Excel, press F4. That’s it!
This shortcut will work for just about any action you can take in Excel, from entering data to formatting cells. If you’re not sure what the last action you took was, just press F4 and see what happens.
There are a few actions that F4 won’t work for, such as inserting rows or columns. But for the most part, this keyboard shortcut can save you a lot of time if you find yourself performing the same task over and over again in Excel.
What Causes Repeat Last Action Feature Not Working in Excel?
If you’re trying to use the Repeat Last Action feature in Excel but it’s not working, there are a few possible explanations. First, the key (F4) you are pressing to repeat the last action might be out of function.
Next, check to see if the action you’re trying to repeat is something that can be repeated. Not all actions can be repeated, so if the action you’re trying to repeat isn’t working, it might not be possible to repeat it.
6 Solutions Regarding Repeat Last Action Not Working in Excel
1. Check Whether Your Keys Are Working Perfectly
To repeat the last action, we press the F4 key. However, if the F4 is out of function, you will find the repeat the last action is not working at all by pressing the F4 key. To tackle this issue, you can try any of the following two issues besides repairing your broken key.
1.1. Use Alternative Shortcut Keys
Instead of pressing the F4 key to repeat the last action, you can press CTRL + Y keys together. Both the F4 key and the CTRL + Y keys do the same action.
1.2. Use Quick Access Toolbar
However, if you don’t want to use the keyboard shortcut keys at all, you can use the Repeat button in the Quick Access Toolbar to repeat the last action in Excel.
To add the Repeat button in the Quick Access Toolbar,
- Click on the down-arrow button at the right edge of the Quick Access Toolbar.
- From the drop-down list select More Commands.
This will take you to the Excel Options dialog box with the Quick Access Toolbar option selected.
- Now select the Repeat command from the All Command drop-down list.
- Next, click on the Add
After clicking on the Add button, the Repeat command will be available in the Customize Quick Access Toolbar column.
- Now hit the OK button to apply the settings.
Finally, the Repeat command icon will be visible in the Quick Access Toolbar. From now on, you can use this button to repeat the last action in Excel.
Read More: How to Repeat Formula in Excel for Whole Column (5 Easy Ways)
2. Check Whether Shortcut Key Assigned to Different Function
If the F4 key is assigned to perform a different function other than repeating the last action, then you might find that Repeat Last Action feature not working.
Also in some keyboards, the F4 key doesn’t work directly. If the situation is so, then consider pressing the Fn key prior to the F4 key.
3. Switch to a New Worksheet
If any of the above solutions don’t work for you, then the problem might be in your worksheet. You can then switch to a new worksheet and then consider trying to repeat the last action again.
4. Switch to a New Workbook
Sometimes switching to a new worksheet doesn’t help solve the repeat last action issue. In that particular case, you can close your current workbook and create a new one. After that, you can try pressing the F4 key or the CTRL + Y keys to repeat the last action. Hope this might work now.
Read More: How to Repeat Formula Pattern in Excel (Easiest 8 ways)
5. Restart Microsoft Excel
Even your Microsoft Excel program can suffer from some issues, which might not allow repeating the last action. To overcome this problem, consider closing your Excel program and the restart once again.
6. Restart Your Computer
The final thing you can do is restart your computer. Restarting your computer will clear all the cache files that might prevent your computer to stop repeating the last action. Thus, after a fresh start, your Excel will allow you to repeat the last action.
Read More: How to Repeat Formula in Every nth Row in Excel (2 Easy Ways)
Things to Remember
- Press the F4 button to repeat the last action you took.
- You can press CTRL + Y to repeat the last action instead of pressing the F4 key alone.
Conclusion
To sum up, we have discussed 6 solutions regarding repeat the last action not working in Excel. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comment section below. We will try to respond to all the relevant queries asap. And please visit our website Exceldemy to explore more.
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