Formatting Issues

Fix Excel Cell Fill and Font Colors Displaying Only in Black and White

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to restore color display in Excel because cell fill and font colors are only rendering in black and white, despite other formatting controls working correctly.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Applying or viewing colored formatting in both new and existing workbooks.
Observed behavior: Excel formatting controls function normally, but previously colored headers, cells, and text appear entirely in black and white across all workbooks.

Before you start

Before altering system settings, verify whether the issue happens only in a specific workbook or across all Excel files, as this helps determine if it's a file-specific corruption or a system-wide display setting.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Windows Accessibility and High Contrast Settings

Windows High Contrast mode or specific accessibility settings can force applications like Excel to override custom colors and display only in black and white.

Open Accessibility Settings

Press Win + U on your keyboard, or navigate to Settings > Accessibility on Windows 11.

Check Contrast Themes

Click on 'Contrast themes' under the Vision section.

Disable High Contrast

Ensure the contrast theme is set to 'None' from the drop-down menu and click 'Apply'.

Restart Excel

Close and reopen Microsoft Excel to check if the cell fill and font colors are displaying correctly again.

Solution 2

Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable COM Add-ins

Third-party add-ins can sometimes interfere with Excel's rendering capabilities. Safe Mode helps identify and disable problematic add-ins.

Solution 3

Repair the Microsoft 365 Installation

If core application files are corrupted, running a built-in repair tool can restore Excel's normal formatting and color display functionality.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Formatting

If Microsoft Excel continues to experience display issues, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with robust formatting tools that render colored spreadsheets flawlessly.

1. Install the Software: Download and install WPS Office from the official website.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch the application and select the Spreadsheets module.
3. Load Your File: Click 'Open' and select your existing .xlsx workbook to view your spreadsheets with their full original formatting and colors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Rich cell fill and font color formatting options that render accurately.Lightweight architecture ensures fast startup without display glitches.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface for seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Excel spreadsheet suddenly turn black and white?

This usually happens if Windows High Contrast mode was accidentally enabled, or if a recent system update corrupted your display drivers or Office installation files.

Can a protected worksheet cause cell colors not to display?

Worksheet protection generally prevents you from applying new formatting, but it does not remove or hide existing colors. However, checking the Review tab and selecting 'Unprotect Sheet' is a helpful diagnostic step to ensure all formatting controls are unlocked.

Does Excel's print setting affect how colors display on the screen?

Normally, print settings only affect the physical output. However, checking Page Layout > Page Setup > Sheet tab and ensuring 'Black and white' is unchecked can occasionally resolve screen display anomalies caused by print preview glitches.

Document & File Issues