Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Excel Color and Border Buttons Opening Palettes Instead of Applying Last Option

Nimra Malik Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience an issue where Excel toolbar buttons (like Fill Color, Font Color, and Borders) open their drop-down palettes rather than applying the last used setting.

Fix Excel Color and Border Buttons Opening Palettes Instead of Applying Last Option

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Applying repetitive cell formatting using the split buttons on the Excel ribbon.
Observed behavior: Clicking the main part of split buttons (such as Color, Border, Merge & Center, or Wrap Text) opens the drop-down menu instead of immediately applying the previously selected option.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure your computer has a stable internet connection and save your current work, as you will need to download updates and restart Microsoft Excel.

Solution 1Recommended

Install the Latest Office Updates

Updating to the newest version of Microsoft Excel typically resolves known bugs with toolbar buttons and drop-down behaviors.

Microsoft frequently releases patches to address UI bugs. If your split buttons are malfunctioning, it is highly likely that a fix has already been pushed to the standard release channel.

Open the Help Menu

Launch Microsoft Excel. On the top menu bar, click on 'Help'.

Check for Updates

Select 'Check for Updates' from the drop-down menu. This will launch the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.

Install and Restart

Click the 'Update' button next to Excel or choose to update all Office applications. Once the installation is complete, restart Excel to apply the fix.

Update Successful: After restarting, test the Fill Color or Border buttons to confirm they now apply the last used option on a single click.

Solution 2

Switch to a Preview Update Channel

If the fix hasn't reached the standard release channel yet, you can access early fixes by switching to an Insider or Beta channel.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Bug-Free Spreadsheet Experience

If Excel updates are causing workflow disruptions and persistent UI bugs, try WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that provides familiar toolbar operations without unexpected drop-down issues.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing Excel files without losing any data or formatting.
3. Apply Formatting Effortlessly: Use the familiar toolbar split buttons to accurately apply colors, borders, and text alignment with a single click.

Familiar and intuitive user interface without a steep learning curveSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formatsLightweight and fast performance on both Mac and WindowsStable formatting toolbars that work flawlessly

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Excel formatting buttons not working normally?

This is typically caused by a software bug in specific Microsoft Office updates. The bug disrupts the behavior of split buttons on the ribbon, forcing them to open the palette menu rather than executing the default last-used action.

Will reinstalling Excel fix the drop-down palette issue?

Reinstalling the exact same version of Excel will likely result in the same issue. The best approach is to use the 'Check for Updates' tool to install a newer, patched version, or temporarily roll back to an older, stable release.

Does this issue affect other Microsoft Office applications?

Yes, similar toolbar button behaviors may appear in Word or PowerPoint if the bug is present in the shared Office UI components for that specific update build.

Can I apply the last color without using the mouse?

Yes, you can use keyboard shortcuts to repeat the last formatting action you performed. Press 'F4' on Windows or 'Command+Y' on Mac to duplicate your last action, bypassing the bugged toolbar buttons entirely.

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