Excel unable to edit

The first corrective step is to restart then Mac, not just Excel. Initially it sounds like there may be a background process or add-in which is intermittently affecting the program. As a diagnostic step start the Mac in Safe Mode to see if the problem persists.

If that doesn't put things right please provide the present Version Numbers of both your Office software & macOS so it can be confirmed as current.

Hi @Paralegal VLAC

Thank you for posting your question in the Q&A Forum. 

I understand how disruptive it is when Excel suddenly locks up after working fine for a few minutes.

Since you are using Microsoft 365 for Business on macOS, please try the following safe steps to see if the behavior changes:

1. Toggle AutoSave (For Cloud-based files)

If your file is stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, the "lock" can sometimes occur during a background sync.

• Try switching AutoSave to OFF (top-left corner) temporarily.
• This may help identify if the issue is related to synchronization or connectivity.

2. Refresh the Edit Interaction

Sometimes the input focus between the mouse and cells gets stuck. You can reset this without losing any data:

• Go to Excel Preferences > Edit.
• Uncheck "Edit directly in cells", close the window, then go back and re-check it.

3. Restore Window Focus

Occasionally, macOS window management can interfere with cell selection:

• Try clicking outside of the Excel window and then back in to restore focus.
• Ensure you are not running any third-party window managers or "Stage Manager" that might be intercepting clicks.

To help us narrow down the cause if the above doesn't work, could you please confirm:

1. Does this happen with all Excel files or just one specific file?
2. Are you using any Add-ins or third-party input sources?

Please let us know what you observe, and we’ll be happy to assist further!

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