How to Fix Conditional Formatting That Turns Cells White in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to troubleshoot conditional formatting rules that hide existing cell colors when a row or column highlighting rule is triggered.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user applies a row or column highlight rule and the existing cell fill colors become white.
- Observed behavior
- Existing cell colors disappear and cells turn white when a highlighting condition is triggered.
Open the affected workbook in WPS Spreadsheets and select a cell that turns white. Confirm that the cell is not manually filled with white, so you can tell whether a conditional formatting rule is causing the issue.
Review Rule Order and Disable Stop If True in Conditional Formatting Manager
Use this when a white-fill rule is overriding your existing color rules. Checking rule order and clearing Stop If True usually resolves the problem.
Conditional formatting rules are evaluated in order. If a white-fill rule is placed before your color rules and has Stop If True enabled, WPS Spreadsheets stops evaluating later rules, so the cell appears white even though the original color rule still exists.
Select the affected cells, go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, and choose Manage Rules.
In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog, set Show formatting rules for to This Worksheet to list all conditional formatting rules.
Locate the rule that applies white fill or No Color. Select it and use Move Up or Move Down so your intended color rules are evaluated in the correct order.
Clear the Stop If True check box for the white-fill rule if it is checked, so lower-priority color rules can still run.
Click Apply, then OK, and trigger the highlight again to confirm the original cell colors remain visible.
Edit or Remove the Unintended White-Fill Formatting Rule
Use this when a separate conditional formatting rule explicitly applies white fill. Editing or deleting that rule restores the previous cell colors.
Fix White-Fill Conditional Formatting in WPS Spreadsheets
Use the Conditional Formatting Manager in WPS Spreadsheets to review rule precedence, disable Stop If True, and remove unintended white-fill rules so existing cell colors stay visible.
- 1. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office, click Spreadsheets, and open the workbook where cells turn white.
- 2. Open Manage Rules: Select an affected cell, go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, and choose Manage Rules.
- 3. Inspect rule order and Stop If True: Review the listed rules, move the white-fill rule below your color rules as needed, and clear Stop If True if it is selected.
- 4. Remove or edit the white fill: Edit the white-fill rule's format or delete it if it is not needed, then click Apply and OK.
- 5. Test the highlighting: Trigger the row or column highlight again and verify that the original cell colors remain visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my conditional formatting rule turn cells white when I highlight a row or column?
A white-fill rule is being evaluated before or after your other color rules and may have Stop If True enabled. Open Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules and check the rule order and the Stop If True check box.
How do I stop a conditional formatting rule from overriding existing cell colors in WPS Spreadsheets?
Select the affected cells, open Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules, select the white-fill rule, move it below the color rules, and clear Stop If True.
Can I keep my row highlight without losing the original fill color?
Yes. Make the highlight rule use only a border, font, or a different fill that does not completely cover the existing color, or adjust rule precedence so the original color rule evaluates after the highlight rule.
Does WPS Spreadsheets support the same conditional formatting rules as Microsoft Excel?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets supports .xlsx conditional formatting rules, including Manage Rules, rule order, Stop If True, and highlight rules, so you can edit Excel files without losing formatting.
What should I check if cells turn white but I did not create a white-fill rule?
Open Manage Rules for This Worksheet and look for a built-in or copied rule that applies No Color or white fill. Select that rule and delete it or edit its format.
