This starts Edit mode and positions the cursor in the cell in the location that you double-clicked. To start working in Edit mode, do one of the following:ĭouble-click the cell that contains the data that you want to edit.

To disable Edit mode, clear the Allow editing directly in cells check box. To enable Edit mode, select the Allow editing directly in cells check box.

Under Editing options, do one of the following: In Excel 2007 only: Click the Microsoft Office Button, click Excel Options, and then click the Advanced category. You can enable or disable Edit mode by changing an Excel option. If you try to use Edit mode and nothing happens, it might be disabled. Instead of moving the cursor from cell to cell, in Edit mode, the arrow keys move the cursor around in the cell. For example, when Excel is in Edit mode, you cannot apply conditional formatting or change the alignment of the contents of a cell.Īlso, the arrow keys behave somewhat differently when Excel is in Edit mode. In Edit mode, many commands are unavailable. How does Excel operate differently in Edit mode? When Excel is in Edit mode, the word Edit appears in the lower-left corner of the Excel program window, as shown in the following illustration. Some Excel features work differently or are unavailable in Edit mode. When you edit the contents of a cell, Excel is operating in Edit mode. You can also edit the contents of a cell by typing in the formula bar. You can edit the contents of a cell directly in the cell. Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013 Excel 2010 Excel 2007 More.

How to enable editing in excel