[Fixed!] Unable to Move Cells in Excel (5 Solutions)

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

When working with Excel, you may need to move cells in Excel. It sometimes becomes challenging to complete an easy task. Therefore, you should determine the problem and the reason for it. Furthermore, you should resolve the problem effectively. In this article, we’ll discuss five ways to fix the problem of being “unable to move cells in Excel”. Let’s follow the complete guide to learn all of this.


How to Fix When Excel Cells Are Unable to Move: 5 Solutions

Sometimes, you may not move cells in the worksheet, the arrows may scroll the entire worksheet instead of being able to move cells. In this case, it becomes impossible to move cells. You may end up on the next spreadsheet instead of moving to the next cell. To fix the issue you have to follow the following five solutions.


Solution 1: Disable Scroll Lock in Excel

You may not be able to move your cursor if you accidentally turn on the Scroll lock. To fix the problem, you have to right-click on the Status bar at the bottom of your worksheet. On the status bar menu, select Scroll Lock once to turn it off.

unable to move cells in excel.

Try moving cells on your worksheet using the arrow keys. They should work normally now. Then you will be able to solve the problem “unable to move cells in Excel”.


Solution 2: Using Keyboard Turn Off Scroll Lock

Excel cannot move cells if the Scroll Lock is turned on. In this case, the up and down arrow will not work until it has been turned off. A computer keyboard usually has a scroll key, and if the light for the key is on, this means the key is turned on. To turn it off, simply press the button once. By turning off the light of the button, you are also turning off Scroll Lock.

You can now move cells in Excel using the up and down arrow keys and everything should work normally and you will be able to solve the problem “unable to move cells in Excel”.

Read more: How to Move Cells in Excel with Keyboard


Solution 3: Utilizing On-Screen Keyboard

Scroll Lock is not commonly found on modern laptops or PCs. The reason for this is that in the latest PC and laptop models this key was removed based on the belief that consumers rarely use it. If this is the case, use the on-screen keyboard to access all the keys, including those that aren’t available on a physical keyboard. You can also use the on-screen keyboard if any of the keys are damaged or do not work on the physical keyboard. Let’s walk through the steps to find out how to turn off the Scroll Lock key.

📌 Steps:

  • Firstly, on your keyboard, press the ‘Win+R’ keys to access the Run command.
  • Next, type OSK.EXE in the search field and click on OK.

Utilizing On-Screen Keyboard

  • When the On-screen keyboard appears, you will see that the ScrLk button is blue, which means you enable it. To turn it off, click on the on-screen keyboard. The blue color should disappear.

Unable to Move Cells in Excel

Go to the worksheet you created in Excel and try to move your cells using the arrow keys.


Solution 4: Enable Sticky Keys

Here is another solution by turning on the sticky keys feature on your system if your MS Excel arrow not moving. Let’s walk through the steps to find out how to turn on the Sticky keys feature.

📌 Steps:

  • Firstly, go to Start, and select Run from the menu.

Enable Sticky Keys

  • Next, type the control panel in the search field and click on OK.

  • When the Control Panel window appears, go to the View by section and click on Ease of Access Centre.

Unable to Move Cells in Excel

  • Next, the Ease of Access Center window appears, click on the Make the keyboard easier to use option.

Enable Sticky Keys

  • When the Make the keyboard to easier to use window appears, check the Turn on Sticky Keys option.

Unable to Move Cells in Excel

Try moving cells on your worksheet using the arrow keys. They should work normally now.


Solution 5: Disable Add-ins

Occasionally, you may need to disable any installed Add-ins to solve the issue since Add-ins can interfere with the app’s functionality and cause issues with the arrow keys. Let’s walk through the steps to find out how to disable Add-Ins.

📌 Steps:

  • Firstly, after opening the Excel file, click on the File tab.

Disable Add-ins

  • Next, click on More and then select Options.

  • When the Excel Options window appears, click on Add-ins, go to the Manage field, and click on the Go button.

Unable to Move Cells in Excel

  • When the Add-ins dialogue box appears, uncheck all the boxes and click on OK.

Disable Add-ins

Try moving cells on your worksheet using the arrow keys. They should work normally now.


Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.


Conclusion

That’s the end of today’s session. I strongly believe that from now you may move cells in Excel. If you have any queries or recommendations, please share them in the comments section below.


Related Articles


<< Go Back to Move Cells | Excel Cells | Learn Excel

What is ExcelDemy?

ExcelDemy - Learn Excel & Get Excel Solutions Center provides online Excel training , Excel consultancy services , free Excel tutorials, free support , and free Excel Templates for Excel professionals and businesses. Feel free to contact us with your Excel problems.
Saquib Ahmad Shuvo
Saquib Ahmad Shuvo

Saquib Ahmad Bhuiyan, holding a BSc degree in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, skillfully integrates engineering expertise with a passion for Excel. He provides solutions to complex issues as an Excel & VBA Content Developer for ExcelDemy Forum. He demonstrates an enthusiastic mindset and adeptness in managing critical situations with finesse, showcasing his commitment to excellence. Apart from creating Excel tutorials, he is interested in Data Analysis with MS Excel, Rhinoceros,... Read Full Bio

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions PDF

 

 

ExcelDemy
Logo