Formatting Issues

Fix Microsoft Forms Responses Showing Red Strikethrough in Excel

Amos Gikunda Oct 8, 2026 868 views

Question details

Microsoft Forms responses are appearing in the linked Excel workbook with unintended red strikethrough formatting despite not being deleted.

How to Fix Microsoft Forms Responses Showing with Red Strikethrough in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing submitted Microsoft Forms response data that is dynamically linked to an Excel workbook.
Observed behavior: Active, non-deleted response entries are displayed with a red strikethrough format, which typically indicates a workbook synchronization or formatting glitch.

Before you start

Check whether this formatting issue appears in both Excel for the Web and the Excel desktop application to determine if it is a local display caching issue or a file-level synchronization problem.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Synchronization and Clear Formatting manually

Use this solution to manually remove the incorrect formatting and test if new form responses sync properly without the red strikethrough.

Often, temporary sync glitches between Microsoft Forms and Excel can apply incorrect conditional formatting or font styles. Clearing the formats manually and testing a new submission can quickly resolve display issues.

Open Excel for the Web

Log into your Microsoft 365 account and open the linked Excel workbook online to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date cloud version of the responses.

Clear existing formats

Select the affected cells containing the red strikethrough. Navigate to the 'Home' tab, click the 'Clear' button (often represented by an eraser icon), and select 'Clear Formats'.

Submit a test response

Open the live Microsoft Form and submit a new test response. Return to the Excel workbook to verify if the newly synced row appears normally without the red strikethrough.

Verify Synchronization and Clear Formatting manually

Solution 2

Report the Issue to Microsoft Support

If clearing formats does not work and the issue occurs across multiple forms, escalating to Microsoft Support is necessary to fix potential backend synchronization bugs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Management

If you are experiencing persistent synchronization or formatting bugs with Microsoft Excel, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for analyzing your exported form data without the hefty subscription fees or cloud-sync glitches.

1. Export your form data: In Microsoft Forms, go to the Responses tab and click 'Open in Excel' to download a static offline copy of your data.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office on your computer and open the downloaded .xlsx file to view your data securely without cloud sync interference.
3. Manage and format: Use the Home tab in WPS Spreadsheet to easily clear any residual strikethroughs and continue analyzing your data.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Free and lightweight with a familiar, easy-to-use interface.Easily clear stubborn formats and analyze large datasets locally.Seamless migration from Microsoft 365 with robust offline capabilities.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Excel cells have a red strikethrough suddenly?

A red strikethrough typically indicates a cell formatting change. In the context of synced Microsoft Forms, it might be caused by a synchronization glitch or a backend flag indicating a deleted response, even if the response is still active.

Does deleting a Microsoft Forms response cause it to strike through in Excel?

Normally, deleting a response in Microsoft Forms removes the row entirely from the linked Excel workbook rather than just applying a strikethrough. If a strikethrough appears instead, it usually points to a caching or versioning error in Microsoft 365.

How can I quickly remove the red strikethrough in my spreadsheet?

You can remove it by selecting the affected cells, navigating to the Home tab, and clicking 'Clear' > 'Clear Formats'. Alternatively, right-click the cells, select 'Format Cells', go to the Font tab, and uncheck the 'Strikethrough' option.

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