Scroll lock is a great feature that can help you save time and effort. When this feature is turned on, you don’t have to worry about the scrolling options on your sheet. You will be able to navigate sheets instead of moving a selected cell with navigation keys.
However, if you want to switch among cells instead of navigating the sheet when using excel, you are at the right place. Read on to learn how to turn off scroll lock in excel the right way.
How to Turn Off Scroll Lock in Excel for Windows 11/10/8/7
If your computer has a keyboard that has a ScrLk key, you can click that key to turn off scroll lock easily. But what if the key is absent on your keyboard, and you want to turn off the scroll lock manually?
In such a case, you can consider relying on the on-screen keyboard tool of Windows. Using the keyboard allows you to type whatever you want with a pointer or a touch interface.
The good thing about this software keyboard is that it contains a Scroll Lock key. By using that key, you can ensure that you trigger the scroll lock whenever needed.
Here is how to turn off scroll lock in excel using the on screen keyboard:
Step 1: Go to Start menu, then click on Settings and find On Screen Keyboard in Ease of Access (Windows 10/11).
You can check the Start menu and go to All Programs to find Accessories and Ease of Access to find On-Screen Keyboard (Windows 7).
Go to Change PC Settings, and then click Keyboard in Ease of Access. Then click on On Screen Keyboard. (Windows 8.1)
Step 2: When the keyboard shows up on the screen, you can click the ScrLk button to turn off Scroll Lock.
The steps mentioned above are valid for those users who don’t have the ScrLk button on their keyboard. Keep in mind that different manufacturers of computers place ScrLk buttons in different places.
Here is how to turn off scroll lock on two of the leading computer manufacturers:
You can use the Fn + S shortcut to turn off the scroll lock on Dell laptops.
You can use the Fn + C combination to turn off the scroll lock on HP laptops.
If you have a laptop/computer from some other manufacturer, the shortcuts mentioned here might not work for you. It’s better to explore the website of that specific manufacturer to find the shortcut that can work on your device.
However, in case your keyboard doesn’t have the ScrLk key or you don’t want to use the on-screen keyboard, it’s better to use an external keyboard that has a dedicated ScrLk key.
How to Turn Off Scroll Lock in Excel for Mac (How to Turn Off Scroll in Excel (Mac))
The method for turning off the scroll lock on a Mac is a bit different from a Windows computer. However, learning how to turn off scroll lock in excel on a Mac computer is not difficult.
Here are the exact steps you can follow to ensure that you don’t run into problems when using spreadsheets on Mac:
Method 1: You can press the F14 key on Apple Extended Keyboard to turn off scroll lock on your Mac.
Method 2: You can use the Shift + F14 shortcut to turn off scroll lock on Mac. In some cases, you might need to use the Control, Option, or Command key on Mac instead of Shift key.
Both these shortcuts can help you change the scroll lock features on your Mac in no time. However, if using a shortcut is not a favorable choice, you can consider buying an affordable Windows laptop/PC you can use for your spreadsheet management needs.
Why Can’t I Turn Off Scroll Lock in Excel
If you are searching for how to turn off scroll lock in excel, you must come across the issue several times. The simple way to find out if the Scroll Lock is enabled is by looking at the SCROLL LOCK of Excel status bar.
In some cases, the status bar of Excel might not show the Scroll Lock even when it's turned on. This might be due to the fact that you hid the Scroll Lock feature in status in the past.
If you want Scroll Lock to show in the status bar of Excel again, these are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Open your desired spreadsheet and right-click the status bar. You can find the status bar at the bottom of your Excel spreadsheet. It’s better to click on the green empty area of the taskbar.
Step 2: Once the dialog box shows up, check if Scroll Lock is turned on and set on visibility. There are other options in the dialog box of your taskbar as well. You can try exploring those features if you want to customize your experience of using Excel.
Once you disable the Scroll Lock, you can ensure that you manage your spreadsheet workflow the way you want.
Best Free Alternative to Microsoft Office - WPS Office
Now that you know how to turn off scroll lock in excel but don’t find the methods time-consuming, you can try using WPS Office. It is an office suite that has all the power of any leading spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel.
You can start using WPS Office for free on leading operating systems, including Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and iOS. Another great thing about WPS Office is that it has a user-friendly interface.
Even if you have not used an office suite ever in your life, you can still learn how to use WPS Office without wasting time and effort. Working with WPS Office can help you create documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, and PDFs in one place.
Here are some of the top benefits of using WPS Office:
It is a free office suite that you can use on many devices.
It is trusted by more than 500 million users around the globe.
It is compatible with all file formats that are used regularly.
You can rely on WPS Templates to boost your creativity.
Download WPS Office
The process of downloading WPS Office is super easy. You can download and install WPS Office even if you are not an avid computer user and cannot find someone who can help you with the installation process.
Here is how to download WPS Office:
Step 1: Visit the wps.com website on any browser you trust. Make sure you use a secure internet connection that allows the installer file to get downloaded on your computer seamlessly.
Step 2: Navigate to the Download button on wps.com website. You can find this button in the header section of the wps.com website whether you are using your computer or a smartphone.
Step 3: Once you are in the Download section, you will be able to see different file formats ready to be downloaded. You will be able to download the installer that is suitable for your device.
Step 4: The installer of your choice will be downloaded through your browser. In this example, you can see that the installer file is located under the “Download” button, and you can click on this downloaded file to get started with installation of WPS Office.
FAQs:
1. How do I know if Scroll Lock is enabled?
A. You can check if your keyboard has a ScrLk key and if the key is pressed and the indicator light is turned on as well. But if there’s no dedicated ScrLk key on your keyboard, you can use arrow keys to find out if the scroll lock is disabled or not.
2. Is Scroll Lock present on all keyboards?
A. Some manufacturers might not place an ScrLk key on the keyboards of their laptops. This is why you should learn how to turn off scroll lock in excel if there’s no ScrLk key on your keyboard.
Handle Spreadsheets with WPS Office
The methods mentioned in this blog can help you learn how to turn off scroll lock in excel. However, if you find the Microsoft Excel interface difficult to use, you should consider using WPS Office.
The good thing about WPS Office is that it is an all-in-one software made with those users in mind who want to use spreadsheets easily. It is a lightweight tool that you can use on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux devices.
Another great thing about WPS Office is that you can use it for free. Compared to Microsoft 365 and other office suite products, you can rely on affordable plans of WPS Office to boost your productivity and handle tasks the right way.
