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Fix Excel Hover Text and Color Names Not Showing on Mac
Question details
Users are unable to see hover text, color names, chart styles, and other option descriptions when using their mouse pointer in Excel and PowerPoint for Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS (specifically macOS Sonoma 14.1.1)
- Scenario
- Attempting to view tooltips and descriptive labels by hovering the mouse cursor over UI options, colors, or chart elements.
- Observed behavior
- The descriptive tooltips (ScreenTips) and color names completely fail to appear when hovering over options in the application ribbon.
Save all open workbooks and ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection, as resolving this issue may require downloading a system or software update.
Enable ScreenTips in Excel Preferences
This solution ensures that the built-in tooltip setting has not been accidentally disabled in your Excel preferences.
Sometimes application preferences can be reset or modified after an update. Verifying that ScreenTips are actively enabled is the fastest way to restore missing hover text.
Launch Microsoft Excel on your Mac. Click on 'Excel' in the top Apple menu bar and select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.
In the Excel Preferences window, locate and click on the 'General' icon.
Look for the option labeled 'Show ScreenTips' or similar tooltip settings. Ensure the checkbox is ticked. If it is already checked, uncheck it, restart Excel, and then check it again.
Update macOS to the Latest Version
Resolves known compatibility bugs between Microsoft Office and specific macOS releases, such as macOS Sonoma 14.1.1.
Update Microsoft 365 Applications
Ensures you have the latest bug fixes from Microsoft that address macOS Sonoma rendering issues.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If Microsoft Office bugs on macOS are disrupting your workflow, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. Enjoy full support for Excel and PowerPoint files with a reliable user interface where tooltips, color descriptions, and features work flawlessly on macOS.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded package, follow the installation prompts, and launch WPS Office.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Drag and drop your existing Excel or PowerPoint files directly into WPS Office to continue your work seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my ScreenTips suddenly disappear in Excel for Mac?
This is often caused by a system-level rendering bug introduced in a specific macOS update (like macOS Sonoma 14.1.1) or an accidental change in Excel's General Preferences.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the hover text issue?
Reinstalling Office might not resolve the problem if the root cause is a macOS compatibility bug. Updating to a newer macOS version (such as 14.2 or later) is usually the most effective fix.
Where can I find the ScreenTips setting in PowerPoint for Mac?
Similar to Excel, you can find this by opening PowerPoint, clicking 'PowerPoint' in the top menu bar, selecting 'Preferences', and looking under the 'General' or 'View' settings for the ScreenTips checkbox.
Are there temporary workarounds if I cannot update macOS right now?
If you cannot update macOS, you can try temporarily using the web versions of Excel and PowerPoint via your browser, as web applications are not affected by this localized macOS rendering bug.
