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Fix Excel for Mac Not Using macOS Highlight Color
Question details
The user needs a way to make Microsoft Excel respect the custom macOS system highlight color instead of defaulting to a gray cell selection highlight.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Sonoma
- Scenario
- Selecting cells or editing data in Excel after customizing the macOS appearance settings.
- Observed behavior
- Excel displays a default gray highlight color for cell selections and the Formula Bar, ignoring the system-wide highlight color set in macOS System Settings.
Before proceeding, save all open workbooks and verify your current macOS and Microsoft Excel version numbers.
Update macOS and Microsoft 365
Installing the latest updates for both macOS Sonoma and Microsoft Excel can resolve known compatibility bugs causing UI glitches.
Compatibility issues often arise when macOS releases major updates. Microsoft frequently patches these graphical glitches in subsequent software updates.
Click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, click Update Now and allow your Mac to install it.
Open Microsoft Excel, click on the Help menu in the top menu bar, and select Check for Updates to launch the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.
After updating both the operating system and Excel, restart your Mac to ensure all graphical changes and system settings are fully applied.
Refresh System Appearance Settings and Test a New Workbook
Confirming your macOS appearance settings are correctly triggered and testing a blank workbook helps rule out file-specific corruption.
Report the Bug to Microsoft
If the issue persists despite having the latest updates, it is likely an ongoing bug that requires reporting directly to the Microsoft development team.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience display glitches or compatibility issues on macOS Sonoma, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly spreadsheet application that integrates perfectly with macOS.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installation package.
- 2. Open your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and simply drag and drop your existing .xlsx files into the workspace to continue editing immediately.
- 3. Enjoy a flawless UI: Experience seamless integration with your Mac's appearance settings, ensuring your workspace looks exactly how you customized it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Excel cell highlight color gray on Mac?
This is typically caused by a graphical compatibility bug between Microsoft Excel and specific macOS versions (such as macOS Sonoma), causing Excel to fail to inherit the custom system highlight settings.
How do I change the system highlight color on a Mac?
Go to the Apple menu > System Settings > Appearance. From there, you can choose your preferred color from the 'Highlight color' dropdown menu. This change will apply across native Mac applications.
Does Microsoft Word for Mac have the same highlight color issue?
Usually, this specific glitch only affects Microsoft Excel's cell selection and Formula Bar. Users typically report that Microsoft Word correctly displays the expected macOS system highlight color.
Will reinstalling Microsoft 365 fix the gray highlight issue?
Reinstalling might not fix the issue if it stems from a known bug in the current version build. Ensuring you are on the latest software updates for both macOS and Excel is the most effective way to receive patches for UI bugs.
