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How to Fix Excel Cannot Change Cell or Font Colors in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user is unable to view, apply, or change cell and font colors in Excel, with workbooks displaying entirely in black and white.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 365
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Opening existing colored workbooks or attempting to format new cells after installing Microsoft 365.
- Observed behavior
- Cell and font color formatting commands fail to apply, and previously colored cells appear entirely black and white in the interface.
Before modifying application settings, open a brand-new blank workbook and attempt to change the cell colors to determine if the issue is application-wide or restricted to specific files.
Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable COM Add-ins
Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and customizations, helping you identify if a third-party plugin is breaking the color display.
Third-party COM add-ins or corrupted startup files can sometimes interfere with Excel's rendering engine, causing formatting tools to become unresponsive or display incorrectly.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type excel /safe and press Enter to launch Excel in Safe Mode.
Open a new or existing workbook in Safe Mode and try to change the font or cell fill color. If the colors display correctly, an add-in is likely the cause.
Click on File, select Options, and navigate to the Add-ins tab on the left pane.
At the bottom of the window, change the Manage dropdown to COM Add-ins and click Go. Uncheck all active add-ins, click OK, and restart Excel normally.
Check Windows Contrast Themes and Display Settings
Windows Accessibility settings, such as Contrast Themes, can override Excel's native color rendering and force a black-and-white display.
Repair the Microsoft 365 Installation
Repairing the Office suite can fix corrupted application files that prevent Excel from rendering colors or responding to formatting commands.
Experience Flawless Spreadsheet Formatting with WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with displaying colors or rendering formats correctly on your Windows PC, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative that flawlessly handles Microsoft Excel documents without display glitches.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and complete the quick installation process on your PC.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx or .xls file.
- 3. Apply Formatting Seamlessly: Select your cells and easily apply font colors and cell fills without display restrictions or glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Excel spreadsheet suddenly turn black and white?
This is most commonly caused by enabling a High Contrast theme in Windows settings, which forces applications to use strict black-and-white accessibility colors. It can also happen due to conditional formatting rules that override standard colors, or a corrupted display driver.
Can worksheet protection prevent me from changing cell colors?
Yes. If a workbook or worksheet is protected and the 'Format cells' permission was not granted by the creator, the font color and cell fill options will be grayed out on the ribbon. You must go to Review > Unprotect Sheet to make changes.
How do I know if an Excel add-in is causing the color issue?
You can isolate add-in issues by holding the Ctrl key while clicking the Excel icon to launch it in Safe Mode. If you can change cell and font colors normally in Safe Mode, one of your installed add-ins is causing the interference and needs to be disabled.
