Excel spreadsheet randomly ignores cell selection with mouse

Question

When selecting a cell in an excel spreadsheet, excel randomly ignores the instruction and selects a cell 3 - 5 cells away.Example - Using the mouse to select cell A35, the selection doesn’t respond correctly, cell A32 becomes the selected cell. If data is entered now it appears in cell A35, but moves to A32 with the next operation.This happens randomly, but when it happens it will continue this act for a number of entries, and then revert to correct operation.

Answer 1

Hello Lyn Stringer,

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

This issue may be caused by a combination of software settings, hardware input conflicts, or display rendering. Based on community feedback and troubleshooting best practices, we recommend the following steps to help resolve the problem: 

 

1. Disable Extend Selection Mode 

• Look at the Status Bar to see if “Extend Selection” is active. 
• Press F8 or Esc to disable it. 
• Confirm that the status disappears from the Status Bar

2. Adjust Zoom Level: Incorrect zoom levels can misalign the cursor. 

• Go to the View tab → click Zoom. 
• Choose a standard magnification (e.g., 100%) and click OK. 
• Alternatively, use the Zoom Slider in the Status Bar. 

 

3. Start Excel in Safe Mode:  

• Close Excel. 
• Hold Ctrl and click to open Excel. 
• When prompted, choose Yes to open in Safe Mode. 

 

4. Disable All Add-ins:  

• Go to File > Options > Add-ins. 
• In the Manage dropdown, select COM Add-ins → click Go. 
  • Uncheck all add-ins → click OK and restart Excel. 

 

5. Enable Direct Editing in Cells 

• Go to File > Options > Advanced. 
• Check Allow editing directly in cells. 
• Click OK and restart Excel. 

6. Additional Tip:  If the cursor still appears in the wrong place, try this: 

1. Go to File > Options > Advanced. 
2. Under Display, check Disable hardware graphics acceleration. 
3. Click OK and restart Excel. 

7. Try a Different Mouse or Update Drivers 

Some users have reported that switching to a different mouse model resolved the issue. Also, ensure your mouse or touchpad drivers are up to date. 

 

I hope these solutions help resolve the issue for you. If you have any further questions or updates, please let us know and we’ll be happy to assist further. 

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