Formatting Issues

Fix Cannot Change Font or Text Size in SharePoint Excel Cells

Emma Brown Oct 12, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user is unable to apply font type or text size changes to multiple cells simultaneously in Excel for the web.

How to Fix Cannot Change Font or Text Size in SharePoint Excel

Product: Excel for the web (SharePoint)
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Modifying text formatting for large cell selections in an online SharePoint workbook.
Observed behavior: Typing the font name fails to apply the formatting, and the displayed font or size does not match the selected values, even when pasting text or using different browsers.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as Excel for the web requires continuous syncing. Also, try clearing your browser's cache or opening a private window to rule out localized browser extension glitches.

Solution 1Recommended

Select Formatting from the Drop-Down Menu

Avoid typing the font name or size manually, as this frequently triggers a known formatting bug in Excel for the web.

When dealing with large selections in Excel for the web, manually typing the font parameters can fail to register with the server. Using the built-in UI drop-downs forces the web application to pass the correct formatting values.

Highlight target cells

Click and drag to select the range of multiple cells you want to format.

Open the font menu

Navigate to the Home tab and click the Font or Font Size drop-down arrow instead of clicking directly into the text box.

Select from the list

Scroll through the drop-down list and click the desired font or size to correctly apply it to the selected cells.

Select Formatting from the Drop-Down Menu

Consistent Usage: You may need to apply this workaround consistently when working with large data sets until the server-side bug is permanently patched by Microsoft.

Solution 2

Submit a Microsoft 365 Service Request

If the issue persists across all workbooks and browsers like Safari or Chrome, it is likely a backend server problem requiring IT intervention.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Reliable and Seamless Formatting

If Excel for the web is causing persistent formatting glitches on your Mac or web browser, WPS Office offers a highly stable desktop experience. It perfectly supports Microsoft Excel formats and provides smooth text formatting without web-based lag or server synchronization bugs.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free desktop application for your Mac or Windows computer from the official WPS website.
2. Open your workbook: Open your existing .xlsx files directly in WPS Spreadsheet without losing any data.
3. Format without limits: Select large ranges of cells and apply fonts and sizes smoothly, free from web browser restrictions.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsStable desktop application with zero web-sync formatting glitchesFamiliar user interface requiring no steep learning curveFree and lightweight alternative to Microsoft 365

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does pasted text display a different font in Excel for the web?

This happens due to a web rendering glitch in SharePoint where the interface reports the correct font (like Calibri) but fails to apply the formatting visually. Using the drop-down menu to re-select the font usually overrides this error.

Does this font formatting bug only happen on Mac computers?

While users frequently report this issue when using Safari or private Chrome sessions on macOS, it is fundamentally a server-side web application issue that can occasionally affect other operating systems and browsers as well.

Can I fix the font issue by clearing my browser cache?

Clearing the cache or using an incognito window can sometimes resolve temporary browser conflicts. However, if the issue affects all workbooks in private browsing modes across multiple browsers, it is a Microsoft service issue requiring an admin support ticket.

Document & File Issues