Formatting Issues

Fix Excel Gridlines Disappearing with Conditional Formatting

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where spreadsheet gridlines created or maintained by conditional formatting disappear when one or more columns have a fill color applied.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Applying column fill colors alongside existing conditional formatting rules intended to display gridlines or borders.
Observed behavior: The gridlines stop displaying correctly in the areas where the fill color is applied due to conflicting formatting rules.

Before you start

Ensure you have the affected spreadsheet open and clearly identify which specific columns or cells are losing their gridlines when the fill color is applied.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust the 'Stop If True' Option and Rule Order

Modify the settings in the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager to prevent fill colors from overriding your gridline rules.

When multiple conditional formatting rules are applied to the same cells, a higher-priority rule with the 'Stop If True' option enabled will prevent lower-priority rules from executing. By disabling this option and adjusting the rule hierarchy, both your fill colors and gridlines can be displayed simultaneously.

Select the affected cells

Highlight the cells or columns where the gridlines are unexpectedly disappearing.

Open the Rules Manager

Go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon, click 'Conditional Formatting', and select 'Manage Rules' from the drop-down menu.

Locate the formatting rules

In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog box, find the rules responsible for the fill colors and the gridlines.

Clear 'Stop If True'

Uncheck the 'Stop If True' box for the relevant rules so that Excel allows multiple formats to apply at the same time.

Adjust rule order

Review the rule order. If necessary, select the gridline rule and use the up arrow to move it above the fill color rule, then click 'Apply' and 'OK'.

Remember to Apply Changes: Always click the 'Apply' button before closing the Rules Manager so you can verify that the gridlines are visible again while the dialog box is still open.

Advanced Formatting Control

Easily Manage Conditional Formatting in WPS Office

WPS Office provides an intuitive Conditional Formatting Rules Manager, making it simple to prioritize rules, keep your gridlines visible, and apply complex fill colors without conflicts.

1. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open the file experiencing gridline issues.
2. Access Conditional Formatting: Navigate to the 'Home' tab and click on the 'Conditional Formatting' icon.
3. Manage Rules: Select 'Manage Rules' from the drop-down menu to view all active formats on your sheet.
4. Adjust Settings: Uncheck 'Stop If True' for conflicting rules and click 'OK' to restore your gridlines.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel conditional formatting rules and file formats.Clear and intuitive Rules Manager to easily toggle 'Stop If True' settings.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to download and use.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Stop If True' mean in conditional formatting?

The 'Stop If True' option prevents lower-priority formatting rules from being applied to a cell if a higher-priority rule's condition is met. Unchecking it allows multiple formatting rules (like fill color and cell borders/gridlines) to be applied simultaneously.

Why do cell fill colors hide standard gridlines?

By default in most spreadsheet software, applying a solid fill color to a cell covers the default faint gray gridlines. To keep gridlines visible when applying fill colors, you must apply actual cell borders either manually or via conditional formatting.

How do I change the priority of my conditional formatting rules?

Open the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager. Select the rule you want to move, and use the 'Move Up' or 'Move Down' arrow buttons at the top of the dialog box to change its priority. Rules at the top of the list have the highest priority.

Excel & Data Problems