How to Fix Partial Black Screen When Scrolling in Excel 2019
Question details
The user experiences parts of the Excel 2019 window turning black while scrolling after upgrading to Windows 11.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2019
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Scrolling through a spreadsheet after updating to a new operating system.
- Observed behavior
- A partial black screen appears within the Excel window, which is often caused by hardware graphics acceleration conflicts.
Ensure your computer's graphics drivers are up to date and save any open workbooks before making changes to Excel's display settings.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
Turning off hardware graphics acceleration forces Excel to use software rendering, which resolves most scrolling black screen issues in Windows 11.
By default, Excel uses your computer's graphics hardware (GPU) to render the display faster. However, driver incompatibilities after OS updates can cause display glitches. Bypassing the GPU usually fixes this immediately.
Launch Microsoft Excel 2019. Click on File in the top-left corner, then select Options at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Excel Options dialog box, click on the Advanced tab located in the left pane.
Scroll down through the right pane until you find the Display section. Check the box next to Disable hardware graphics acceleration.
Click OK to apply the changes. Completely close Excel and reopen your spreadsheet to verify if the black screen issue is resolved.
Experience Glitch-Free Spreadsheets with WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience display issues like black screens on Windows 11, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and smooth spreadsheet experience without frustrating graphical glitches.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and run the quick installation.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel files directly.
- 3. Work Without Glitches: Enjoy a smooth, hardware-optimized scrolling and editing experience without encountering black screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel screen turn black when I scroll?
This typically happens due to a conflict between Excel's hardware graphics acceleration feature and your computer's display drivers, a common occurrence after major operating system updates like Windows 11.
What does disabling hardware graphics acceleration do in Excel?
Disabling it forces Excel to use its built-in software rendering instead of your computer's GPU to draw the interface. This bypasses the driver conflicts that cause graphical issues like black, blank, or flickering screens.
Where is the Disable hardware graphics acceleration option in newer Office versions?
In some newer builds of Microsoft 365 and Office 2021, this option has been removed from the Advanced settings menu as Microsoft enforces automatic graphics management. If it is missing, updating your GPU drivers or modifying the Windows Registry are the primary alternatives.
