Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Excel Ignore Once Not Moving to Next Misspelled Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue in Excel where clicking 'Ignore Once' during a spell check does not automatically move to the next misspelled word.

Product: Excel 2021 Pro
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running a spell check on a spreadsheet containing multiple spelling errors.
Observed behavior: When selecting 'Ignore Once' on a misspelled word, Excel leaves the current cell selected and fails to automatically advance to the next spelling error in the worksheet.

Before you start

Before attempting repairs, manually save a copy of your spreadsheet to prevent data loss, and test the spell check feature in a blank workbook to see if the issue is file-specific.

Solution 1Recommended

Update and Repair Microsoft Office

Run an Office update and a full online repair to ensure the spell check issue is not caused by corrupted installation files.

While this issue is often tied to a specific build bug in Excel 2021 Pro, ensuring your Office suite is fully updated and repaired is the necessary first step in troubleshooting any anomalous behavior.

Check for Office Updates

Open Microsoft Excel, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' at the bottom of the menu. Click on 'Update Options' and select 'Update Now' to install any pending patches.

Access the Control Panel

If updating does not resolve the issue, press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and press Enter. Navigate to 'Programs' and select 'Programs and Features'.

Run Online Repair

Locate Microsoft Office 2021 Professional in the list of installed applications, right-click it, and select 'Change'. Choose 'Online Repair' and click 'Repair' to fix corrupted software components.

Repair Limitations: Because this behavior is widely suspected to be a product bug within certain builds of Excel 2021 Pro, standard updates and repairs might not completely resolve the problem.

Solution 2

Report the Bug to Microsoft Support

Escalate the unresolved spell check issue to Microsoft Support so the engineering team can investigate and deploy a patch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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If Excel's spell check bug is slowing down your productivity, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative with a robust, bug-free spell checker that keeps your workflow moving seamlessly.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office for free on your device.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing Excel (.xlsx) files directly without any conversion.
3. Run Spell Check: Navigate to the 'Review' tab and click 'Spell Check' to seamlessly verify your document without freezing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'Ignore All' instead of 'Ignore Once' as a temporary workaround?

Yes, clicking 'Ignore All' may successfully bypass the current word and allow the spell checker to move to the next error, though it will ignore all instances of that specific word in your entire worksheet.

Why is the spell check bug only affecting Excel 2021 Pro?

Software bugs are often tied to specific build versions. An error in the source code for the Excel 2021 Pro spell check feature prevents the selection box from automatically jumping to the next cell. This usually requires a direct patch from Microsoft.

How do I check my exact Excel version before reporting the bug?

Open any Excel workbook, click on 'File' in the top ribbon, and select 'Account' at the bottom of the left sidebar. Your version, edition, and specific build number will be displayed under 'Product Information' on the right.

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