Excel Error Codes

How to Fix Excel Error &H80070057 When Pressing Tab or Enter

Bushra Parveen Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user encounters the &H80070057 error prompt when navigating between cells using keyboard shortcuts like Tab or Enter.

How to Troubleshoot Excel Error &H80070057 When Using Tab or Enter

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving between cells in an Excel workbook using the keyboard.
Observed behavior: An error dialog displaying &H80070057 pops up when pressing Tab or Enter. Excel resumes normal function after clicking OK on the error message.

Before you start

Before modifying add-ins or running repairs, ensure you have saved your current progress and created a backup copy of the affected workbook.

Solution 1Recommended

Test in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses active add-ins and extensions, helping you identify if a third-party plugin is causing the keyboard navigation conflict.

Error &H80070057 often stems from a conflict with COM add-ins or custom extensions that monitor keyboard events like Tab or Enter. By isolating these add-ins, you can pinpoint and remove the exact cause of the issue.

Launch Excel in Safe Mode

Close Excel completely. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'excel /safe', and press Enter.

Test Keyboard Navigation

Open the affected workbook while still in Safe Mode. Press Tab or Enter to move between cells. If the error does not appear, an add-in is likely the culprit.

Access the Add-ins Menu

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then click on 'Add-ins' in the left sidebar.

Disable COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window next to 'Manage', select 'COM Add-ins' from the dropdown and click 'Go'. Uncheck all add-ins in the list and click 'OK'. Restart Excel normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Identify the Specific Add-in: If the error disappears, re-enable your add-ins one by one and restart Excel each time until the error returns. This will tell you exactly which add-in needs to be permanently removed or updated.

Solution 2

Transfer Data to a New Blank Workbook

Copying your data to a fresh workbook can resolve issues caused by underlying file corruption or hidden formatting errors.

Solution 3

Run Microsoft Office Repair Tool

If the error happens across all workbooks, repairing the Office installation can fix damaged application files responsible for the glitch.

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If Microsoft Excel continues to display persistent errors like &H80070057 or suffers from add-in conflicts, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight alternative for managing your spreadsheets seamlessly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does error code &H80070057 mean in Excel?

This error code generally indicates a parameter error. In the context of Excel, it usually means there is a conflict with an installed add-in, a corrupted workbook profile, or an issue with background macro execution, even if you did not manually write any VBA code.

Why does the error only happen when I press the Tab or Enter keys?

The Tab and Enter keys trigger specific cell navigation events in Excel. If a third-party add-in or a hidden background script is actively monitoring these keyboard events and fails to process them properly, it interrupts the action and throws the &H80070057 error.

Will reinstalling Excel completely fix the &H80070057 error?

Reinstalling Excel can sometimes fix the issue by wiping out corrupt configurations, but it is usually unnecessary. Running the built-in Office Repair tool or simply identifying and disabling the faulty COM add-in is typically a much faster and more effective solution.

Microsoft Office Error Codes