Excel Performance Problems

How to Fix Missing or Covered Content in Excel Files

Ayan Masood Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel file content disappears or appears covered on a specific computer.

How to Fix Excel Files Displaying Missing or Covered Content

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Viewing and editing existing Excel workbooks on a new device.
Observed behavior: Cell content is visually missing or covered up on one specific device, even though the same files display perfectly on other devices and the operating system was reinstalled.

Before you start

Before making system changes, create a completely new blank workbook on the affected device to see if the display issue occurs with new files, which helps isolate whether the problem is file-specific or application-wide.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Microsoft Office and Windows OS

Keeping your software updated is the most effective way to resolve device compatibility bugs and display glitches.

Since the issue happens on a new computer but works fine on others, it is highly likely related to missing device drivers or an outdated Office build.

Check for Windows Updates

Go to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click 'Check for updates' to install the latest system and display drivers.

Open Excel Account settings

Open Microsoft Excel, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' from the bottom of the left menu.

Apply Office updates

Under Product Information, click on 'Update Options' and select 'Update Now'. Allow the process to complete and restart Excel.

Reboot Required: Make sure to completely restart your computer after installing both Windows and Office updates to ensure the changes take effect.

Solution 2

Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration

Display issues like missing or covered content are frequently caused by conflicts between Excel and your computer's graphics card drivers.

Solution 3

Run an Online Repair for Office

If updating doesn't work, repairing the Office installation can fix corrupted application files causing visual bugs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

View Spreadsheets Flawlessly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with display issues on your computer, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment where you can open, view, and edit your spreadsheets without encountering frustrating visual bugs.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package.
2. Install and Launch: Follow the simple installation prompts, then open WPS Spreadsheets.
3. Open Your Files: Open your existing Excel files to view and edit your content flawlessly without display errors.

Seamless Microsoft Office format compatibility for .xlsx, .xls, and .csv files.Lightweight architecture prevents device-specific display glitches and heavy resource usage.Completely free to use with a familiar interface for a zero-learning-curve migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel file look fine on one computer but has missing content on another?

This is usually caused by differences in device drivers, display scaling settings, or a corrupted Office installation on the problematic computer. The file itself is likely intact, but the local software is struggling to render it.

Can outdated graphics drivers cause Excel content to disappear?

Yes. Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can struggle to render Excel's grid and cell contents properly. Disabling hardware graphics acceleration in Excel or updating your GPU drivers usually fixes this.

Does reinstalling Windows fix Excel display bugs?

Not always. If the bug is tied to a specific version of Microsoft Office or an unpatched device driver, reinstalling the OS might not resolve the issue unless you also install the latest software updates and hardware drivers right after.

Excel & Data Problems