Fix Excel Worksheets Showing Blank Cells While Scrolling
Question details
Users experience an issue where Excel 365 temporarily renders cells as completely blank while scrolling down a worksheet, even though the data is still present.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Scrolling through a populated worksheet in Excel 365.
- Observed behavior
- Cells temporarily appear blank during the scrolling action, but the data instantly reappears when the user stops or selects an individual cell.
Ensure you save your current workbook and check your internet connection, as you may need to download the latest Microsoft Office updates to resolve this display bug.
Update Microsoft Excel to a Newer Build
Installing a newer build (such as version 2205 build 15225.20204 or later) addresses the underlying rendering bug causing the blank cells.
Microsoft identified this specific scrolling rendering glitch as a known issue in certain earlier builds of Excel 365. Applying the latest updates ensures you receive the patch that corrects how graphics are displayed during fast worksheet navigation.
Launch Microsoft Excel. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the ribbon, and then select 'Account' from the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane.
Under the 'Product Information' section on the right side, click the 'Update Options' dropdown button and choose 'Update Now'.
Allow Microsoft 365 to check for, download, and install any available updates. Once the process is complete, restart Excel and try scrolling through your worksheet again.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
Turning off hardware acceleration can bypass graphics card conflicts that cause rendering lag and display glitches in Office applications.
Use WPS Office for Smooth and Glitch-Free Spreadsheet Scrolling
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience rendering delays or temporary blank cells on your device, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly optimized, lightweight spreadsheet tool that handles large datasets smoothly without heavily taxing your system's graphics resources.
- 1. Download the Software: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free suite on your device.
- 2. Open Your Excel Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet, click 'Open', and select your existing .xlsx files. No conversion is required.
- 3. Enjoy Smooth Scrolling: Navigate through your large worksheets and experience seamless, glitch-free rendering instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel cells go blank when I scroll fast?
This is typically caused by a rendering delay or a specific graphical bug in certain builds of Excel 365. The application's display engine temporarily fails to refresh the screen quickly enough to keep up with the scrolling speed.
Is my data lost when the cells appear blank during scrolling?
No, your data is completely safe and unchanged. This is purely a visual display glitch. If you click on a blank cell, the data will instantly render in both the cell and the formula bar.
Can complex conditional formatting cause blank cells while scrolling?
Yes, excessive conditional formatting, heavy formulas, or hundreds of graphical elements can slow down Excel's overall rendering performance, which heavily exacerbates display issues like blank cells when navigating large worksheets.
Does my computer's graphics card affect Excel rendering?
Yes, outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can conflict with Excel's hardware acceleration feature. Updating your device's display drivers through the Windows Device Manager or disabling hardware acceleration in Excel often resolves persistent visual glitches.
