Excel automatically highlighting row and column

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the automatic row and column highlighting feature in Excel on Windows 11, specifically the "Focus Cell" functionality. Users can toggle this feature on and off by selecting the Focus Cell button on the View tab or using the keyboard shortcut Alt + W + E + F. This built-in feature is available in Microsoft 365 on Windows 11, but users of older versions, such as Excel 2019 on Windows 10, may not have access to it. The conversation highlights the confusion surrounding the feature and the difficulty in locating the appropriate buttons in Excel.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel interface
  • Understanding of Windows 11 operating system
  • Knowledge of keyboard shortcuts in Excel
  • Awareness of Excel version differences, specifically Microsoft 365 vs. older versions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research how to disable the Focus Cell feature in Microsoft Excel
  • Explore keyboard shortcuts for Excel on Windows 11
  • Learn about the differences between Microsoft 365 and older Excel versions
  • Investigate VBA methods for custom highlighting in Excel
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for Excel users, particularly those on Windows 11, as well as anyone seeking to understand the new features in Microsoft 365 and how to manage them effectively.

gmax137
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Excel on Windows 11. My windows was "updated" yesterday. Now, when I open an excel file, I get this green highlighting. Anyone know how to turn this off? It really annoys me.
Thanks!

Example 1 (Cursor is in cell D9)
excel1.jpg


Example 2 (cursor in F12)
excel2.jpg
 
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https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/increase-ease-of-navigation-with-focus-cell-in-excel/4264531 said:
On the View tab, select Focus Cell button to toggle the feature on and off, or press Alt + W + E + F.
 
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Just so, @jack action Thanks so much. I searched on "excel highlight row and column" but all the hits I got were VBA recipes to make excel do the highlighting. Apparently enough people wanted to do this, that MS built it in at some point ("Focus Cell")
My biggest problem with excel is finding the right buttons, especially when I don't know the name of the button, lol.
 
@jack action -- Is that only on newer versions of Excel and Win11? I'm using an old 2019 Home version on Win10.
 
@berkeman Here's where I see it (Microsoft 365 on Win 11). Not sure if that will help you. Although as I mentioned above, there are lots of hits describing how to do the highlighting via VBA, so the built in feature must not have been available.

excel3.jpg
 
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