Microsoft excel goes wacky

Question

Microsoft excel goes wacky

Dayle Haworth 20

I am using Excel, and after a few minutes it starts acting wacky...it makes extra lines or deletes lines, or everything is out of order. How do I correct this? It is maddening. I have to close it and open it again, but then it messes up all over again.

John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:20:18.16+00:00
Hi, @Dayle Haworth

To help narrow down the issue:

When did this issue start, and what exactly happens when Excel begins acting strangely?

Were there any recent changes, such as an Office or Windows update, a new add-in, or a new keyboard or mouse?

Does this happen in every workbook, including a new blank workbook, or only in one specific file? Thanks!
John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:21:33.18+00:00
Hi, @Dayle Haworth

To help narrow down the issue:

When did this issue start, and what exactly happens when Excel begins acting strangely?

Were there any recent changes, such as an Office or Windows update, a new add-in, or a new keyboard or mouse?

Does this happen in every workbook, including a new blank workbook, or only in one specific file? Thanks!
Dayle Haworth 20 Reputation points

2026-08-01T01:22:56.28+00:00

It started happening about a week ago. It happens in all workbooks. I will be typing along and the line disappears or it selects more than one line or smashes lines into each other. I have not added anything lately. Thank you for trying to help me. It is driving me insane.

Answer accepted by question author

John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Independent Advisor

Thank you for letting me know.

If Microsoft 365 Family is active, please try these steps if you haven’t already:

Before installing, it’s a good idea to uninstall all existing versions of Office to avoid conflicts.

Here’s how:

Open the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Look for any version of Microsoft Office or Office apps, right-click, then choose Uninstall. Please uninstall all Office apps.
Once that’s done, restart your computer just to be safe.

Then, to reinstall Microsoft Office:

Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services
Sign in using the same Microsoft account linked to your license.
Find your Microsoft 365 Family Subscription and click the "Install".
That will download the installer for the Office apps, just run it and follow the steps.

If anything’s unclear or the "Install" option still doesn’t show, feel free to let me know. I’ll be happy to walk you through it!

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Dayle Haworth 20 Reputation points

2026-08-01T20:01:27.7133333+00:00

That did not work, but I got the bright idea of copying my entire worksheet, which was pages and pages long, and putting it in a new worksheet, and that took care of it. Never did figure out what was wrong with the original, though. Thanks for all your help.

4 additional answers

Your answer

John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:20:18.16+00:00

Hi, @Dayle Haworth

To help narrow down the issue:

When did this issue start, and what exactly happens when Excel begins acting strangely?

Were there any recent changes, such as an Office or Windows update, a new add-in, or a new keyboard or mouse?

Does this happen in every workbook, including a new blank workbook, or only in one specific file? Thanks!
John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:21:33.18+00:00

Hi, @Dayle Haworth

To help narrow down the issue:

When did this issue start, and what exactly happens when Excel begins acting strangely?

Were there any recent changes, such as an Office or Windows update, a new add-in, or a new keyboard or mouse?

Does this happen in every workbook, including a new blank workbook, or only in one specific file? Thanks!
Dayle Haworth 20 Reputation points

2026-08-01T01:22:56.28+00:00

It started happening about a week ago. It happens in all workbooks. I will be typing along and the line disappears or it selects more than one line or smashes lines into each other. I have not added anything lately. Thank you for trying to help me. It is driving me insane.
Dayle Haworth 20 Reputation points

2026-08-01T20:01:27.7133333+00:00

That did not work, but I got the bright idea of copying my entire worksheet, which was pages and pages long, and putting it in a new worksheet, and that took care of it. Never did figure out what was wrong with the original, though. Thanks for all your help.

Answer 1

Dayle Haworth 20

I have Microsoft 365 Family.

Dayle Haworth 20 Reputation points

2026-08-01T02:09:53.6733333+00:00

I am removing and restoring now. Thank you for you help.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Dayle Haworth 20

Let me go look.

John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:34:13.4066667+00:00

Sure. Please let me know whether Microsoft 365 or Office appears under “Services & subscriptions.” Thanks!

Answer 4

Dayle Haworth 20

So maybe I need to remove it and reinstall it...but where do I do that?

John Jefferson Doyon 82,310 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-01T01:30:20.3633333+00:00

Do you have any active subscriptions or Office license under your Microsoft account at https://account.microsoft.com/services?