Fix Missing Apply Filter Button in Excel for Mac on Apple Silicon
Question details
The user needs to select multiple items in an Excel filter dropdown but cannot find the Apply Filter or OK button to process the bulk selection.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS (Apple Silicon / M1 Mac)
- Scenario
- Filtering data in a spreadsheet and attempting to apply multiple filter criteria simultaneously.
- Observed behavior
- The Apply Filter or OK button is missing from the filter dropdown menu, forcing the user to filter each option individually rather than in bulk.
Ensure you save all your open workbooks and fully close Microsoft Excel before changing update channels or modifying application system folders.
Update Excel or Switch to the Beta Update Channel
Updating to the latest release or switching to the Beta update channel often resolves missing UI elements caused by ongoing feature rollouts.
Microsoft frequently rolls out updates that can inadvertently hide or move features. Switching to a different update channel like the Beta Channel can download the newest fixes that are currently under development and restore missing elements.
Open Microsoft Excel on your Mac. Click on 'Help' in the top menu bar and select 'Check for Updates'.
In the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool, click on the 'Advanced' button to access channel settings.
Change the update channel dropdown to 'Beta Channel'. Allow the application to search for available updates and install them.
Close the update tool, restart Microsoft Excel, and open your workbook to see if the Apply Filter button has returned.
Run Microsoft Excel with Rosetta
Running the application through Apple's Rosetta translation layer can resolve graphical and UI bugs specific to native Apple Silicon builds.
Clear the Microsoft Excel Container Folder
Removing the container folder clears out corrupted cache files that might be causing UI glitches like missing buttons.
Use WPS Office for a Flawless Spreadsheet Experience on Mac
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience UI bugs, missing buttons, and compatibility issues on your M1 or M2 Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with a familiar interface that works seamlessly on macOS without stripping away essential data analysis tools like filters.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package designed for macOS.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Workbooks: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Excel workbooks to effortlessly filter and manage your data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Apply Filter button missing in Excel on my M1 Mac?
This is often a known graphical bug or a side effect of an ongoing feature rollout in Microsoft 365 specifically affecting the Apple Silicon build. Some application versions inadvertently omit the button, forcing users to filter items one by one.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Excel fix the missing filter button?
Reinstalling might help if the application files themselves are heavily corrupted. However, it is usually much faster and more effective to update to the latest Beta channel version, clear the Excel container folder, or temporarily run the app using Rosetta.
What does 'Open using Rosetta' do for Microsoft Excel?
Checking 'Open using Rosetta' forces your Apple Silicon Mac to run the Intel-based version of Microsoft Excel via Apple's translation layer. This can bypass architecture-specific bugs that are only present in the native M1/M2 versions of the app.
