Cannot find color contrast flag in Excel table

Question

I have a spreadsheet with a table. The table does have some different color backgrounds but the table is being flagged for hard to read text and I have checked every text against the background and they all pass. I don’t have any hidden rows. The issue flagged also does not specify exactly where the issue is occurring. How do I find the issue and fix it?

Answer 1

Hi @Timothy Drazen, 

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

I understand that your spreadsheet is being flagged for “hard to read text” even though you’ve checked all visible text and background colors and they appear to pass contrast checks. 

This warning typically appears when Excel detects formatting that could cause low text contrast, even if it’s not immediately visible. Here are the first steps you can try to locate and resolve the issue: 

1. Clear any hidden or invisible formatting 

• Select the entire worksheet by pressing Ctrl + A, then go to Home > Editing > Clear > Clear Formats.  

 

• This removes hidden formatting (such as spaces or invisible characters) that may trigger accessibility warnings. You can then reapply your intended styles afterward. 

2. Check for conditional formatting 

• Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules.  

• Look for any rules that might apply light-colored text or background fills based on conditions, whichcan cause contrast issues even if they’re not currently visible. 

3. Review the Accessibility Checker details 

Open Review > Check Accessibility, then expand the “Hard to read text” section in the results pane. If you see a reference to a specific chart, shape, or text box (e.g., Chart 1 or TextBox 3), the issue may come from a non-cell element that’s difficult to see on the sheet. 

  

Note: Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.  

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.  

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.  

I'm looking forward to your reply.  

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