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Fix Excel Not Saving the Show Page Breaks Setting
Question details
The user needs to maintain the visibility of page break lines in their spreadsheet, but the preference resets automatically.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016 and Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring advanced display settings to keep page breaks visible across multiple sessions for a specific workbook.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Show Page Breaks' option under Advanced settings resets every time the workbook is closed and reopened, even after running Office repairs and disabling COM add-ins.
Verify that your Microsoft 365 suite is updated to the latest build, as Microsoft frequently patches interface and display bugs in newer releases.
Report the Issue via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Since standard repairs and add-in checks do not resolve this persistent reset, escalating the problem to Microsoft Support is the best approach to document and investigate a potential product bug.
When local troubleshooting steps like Online Repair or safe mode fail to retain workbook settings, the issue often stems from a deeper software bug or an enterprise configuration policy that requires Microsoft's engineering team to investigate.
Reach out to your organization's IT department or the administrator who manages your Microsoft 365 licenses.
Ask the administrator to log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center using their administrative credentials.
Navigate to 'Support' on the left sidebar and select 'New service request'.
Detail the issue by stating that Excel 2016/365 fails to save the 'Show Page Breaks' Advanced option upon closing the workbook, and mention that repairs and COM add-in checks have already been completed.
Use Page Break Preview as a Temporary Workaround
While waiting for Microsoft to resolve the bug, you can use the built-in View ribbon options to quickly restore page break lines manually.
Try WPS Office for Reliable Spreadsheet Configuration
If persistent Microsoft Excel bugs like resetting page break settings are slowing down your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable environment that consistently remembers your advanced display preferences.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing .xlsx workbook.
- 3. Configure Display Settings: Go to Menu > Options > View to adjust your page break preferences, and save the file with confidence that your settings will be preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Show Page Breaks' setting keep turning off?
This is likely due to a known software bug in specific builds of Excel 2016 and Microsoft 365, where the application fails to correctly write and retain the Advanced display preference to the workbook configuration file or Windows registry upon exiting.
Can Excel COM add-ins interfere with saving settings?
Yes, third-party COM add-ins can sometimes block Excel from saving application or workbook-level preferences when closing. However, if disabling all COM add-ins via File > Options > Add-ins does not resolve the issue, it is almost certainly a core application bug.
Is there a way to permanently show page breaks in my spreadsheet?
If the specific 'Show Page Breaks' option in Advanced Settings repeatedly fails to save due to an Office bug, your best permanent solution is to submit a support ticket via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, or switch to a stable Office alternative like WPS Spreadsheets which correctly preserves view states.
