Keyboard commands malfunctioning in Excel [Fix]

If keyboard commands are not functioning properly in Excel, here are the troubleshooting steps you can take. Whether you’re experiencing issues with one specific command or multiple commands, you can utilize the same set of solutions to resolve this problem.

Prior to beginning the troubleshooting process, it is crucial to verify the functionality of all your keys. You can make use of these keyboard testing programs to test the keys.

Keyboard commands not working in Excel

If keyboard commands are not working as intended in Excel, follow these suggestions to resolve the issue:

1. Check and modify Macro commands
2. Disable Sticky keys
3. Turn off Transition navigation keys
4. Uninstall add-ins
5. Modify the default input method

If necessary, you can temporarily use the On-Screen keyboard.

1] Check and modify Macro commands

This is the first step to take since you may have assigned the same keyboard command to different macros. For example, if you have set Ctrl+V to execute a macro in Excel, you won’t be able to use the same traditional command to paste something into your spreadsheet. In such cases, you need to modify or remove the hotkey for that particular macro. To check and modify Macro commands, follow these instructions:

• Launch the Excel application on your computer.
• Go to the Developer tab.
• Click on the Macros option.
• Select a predefined macro from the list.
• Click the Options button.
• Choose a new keyboard command.
• Click the OK button.

2] Disable Sticky keys

Many individuals find it cumbersome to hold down multiple keys simultaneously, which is where the Sticky keys feature comes into play. However, this feature can also cause the aforementioned problem in Excel. Therefore, it is advisable to temporarily disable Sticky keys and check if it resolves the issue.

3] Turn off Transition navigation keys

Transition navigation keys enable the execution of various tasks using the same keyboard command. However, this setting can also interfere with your keyboard commands in Excel. Thus, disabling this setting might help resolve the issue. To turn off Transition navigation keys, follow these steps:

• Open the Excel application.
• Click on the File menu.
• Select the Options.
• Switch to the Advanced tab.
• Navigate to the Lotus compatibility section.
• Uncheck the box next to Transition navigation keys.
• Click the OK button.

4] Uninstall add-ins

At times, having an excessive number of add-ins can also cause the same problem. While Application Add-ins and Document Related Add-ins typically don’t cause such issues, you may encounter problems after installing third-party add-ins. Hence, it is recommended to uninstall the most recently installed add-ins one by one to check if that resolves the problem.

To do this, right-click on the add-in icon and select the Remove Add-in option.

Click the Yes button on the confirmation window to complete the process.

5] Modify default input method

If you have an entirely different language set (e.g., English alongside Spanish), it can also cause issues in Excel. Therefore, switching to English may yield positive results. To modify the default input method, follow these steps:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to Time & language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings.
• Expand the drop-down list.
• Select the English (United States) – US option.

That’s it! Hopefully, these solutions have resolved your issue.

Read: Keyboard Shortcuts not working in Word

How do I enable keyboard shortcuts in Excel?

There is no need to enable keyboard shortcuts in Excel since all the predefined shortcuts are already enabled by default. However, if you want to automate a specific action, you can create a macro and assign a keyboard shortcut to it. To activate a macro using a keyboard shortcut, you can open the editing panel and click the Options button. Then, select a keyboard shortcut according to your requirements.

Why are shortcut keys not functioning in Excel?

There could be various reasons why keyboard shortcuts are not working in Excel. Anything from the Transition navigation keys setting to the assignment of keyboard shortcuts for macros can be responsible for this error. However, you can try the aforementioned solutions to resolve this issue on Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers.

Read: Keyboard shortcuts and Hotkeys are not working in Windows.