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How to Fix Excel Cells Showing Strikethrough from Stale Values
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where Excel cells display a strikethrough format even though the standard strikethrough font option is disabled, which is caused by stale-value formatting.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Working with Excel spreadsheets where manual calculation mode or macros trigger stale value indicators on certain cells.
- Observed behavior
- Cell contents unexpectedly appear crossed out (strikethrough) despite standard font formatting being turned off.
Before modifying your calculation settings, verify whether your workbook requires manual calculation mode for performance reasons, and check if any background macros are currently running.
Disable Stale Value Formatting from the Formulas Tab
Quickly turn off the visual indicator for stale values directly from the ribbon interface.
In certain versions of Excel, a quick toggle is available directly on the ribbon to turn off the strikethrough formatting for stale values.
Open your Excel workbook and click on the 'Formulas' tab located in the top ribbon.
Locate the 'Calculation' group on the right side of the ribbon and click on 'Calculation Options'.
Click to uncheck or clear the 'Format Stale Values' option from the dropdown menu to remove the strikethrough.
Adjust Application-Level Error Checking Rules
Use this method if you rely on macros that toggle calculation modes, or if the quick option is missing from your ribbon.
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- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
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- 3. Edit Without Interruptions: Enjoy seamless data editing and standard calculation features without unexpected strikethrough formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are stale values in an Excel spreadsheet?
Stale values occur when a workbook is set to manual calculation mode, and a cell's input has changed but the formula cell depending on it hasn't been recalculated yet.
Why do stale values suddenly show as a strikethrough?
Excel introduced a visual indicator feature that crosses out (strikethrough) stale values. This is designed to warn users that the data displayed in the cell is outdated and pending a recalculation.
How do I recalculate cells to remove the strikethrough automatically?
You can force a manual calculation for the entire workbook by pressing the F9 key, or you can change your calculation options back to 'Automatic' under the Formulas tab.
Why can't I find 'Format Stale Values' in my Calculation Options?
Depending on your specific version or update channel of Excel, this option might not be present in the ribbon. Instead, you need to navigate to File > Options > Formulas and uncheck 'Cells containing stale values' under the Error checking rules.
