Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix a Random Circle with a Black Box in Excel

Jason Miller Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a display issue in Excel where a random circle surrounded by a black box appears over their worksheets.

How to Fix a Random Circle with a Black Box in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Working within Excel workbooks when random graphical artifacts disrupt the spreadsheet view.
Observed behavior: A strange circle enclosed in a black box randomly overlays the Excel screen, appearing unpredictably across different files.

Before you start

Before modifying system settings, confirm if the issue happens on a specific sheet or all workbooks, and ensure you have administrative rights to update the Office application.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration

Display artifacts like random black boxes and circles are often caused by rendering issues. Disabling hardware graphics acceleration forces Excel to use software rendering.

Graphics acceleration leverages your computer's GPU to render the Excel interface smoothly. However, driver conflicts or older hardware can cause strange graphical glitches. Turning this feature off is the most common fix for unexplained shapes on the screen.

Open Excel Options

Launch Excel and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Display Settings

In the Excel Options window, click on the 'Advanced' tab on the left pane and scroll down to the 'Display' section.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Check the box that says 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration', click 'OK', and restart Excel to see if the black box disappears.

Restart Required: Make sure to completely close and reopen Excel for the graphics setting changes to take effect.

Solution 2

Start Excel in Safe Mode to Test Add-ins

Third-party add-ins can sometimes interfere with Excel's UI. Running Excel in Safe Mode allows you to determine if an add-in is the root cause.

Solution 3

Update Microsoft 365

Outdated software can contain known bugs. Updating Microsoft 365 ensures you have the latest patches for display glitches.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Glitch-Free Spreadsheets with WPS Office

If Microsoft Excel continues to have display issues like random black boxes, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative that opens your existing Excel workbooks perfectly.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install the Application: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
3. Open Your Excel Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing .xlsx files to continue working without glitches.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formatsLightweight application requiring fewer system resourcesFamiliar user interface for a seamless migrationFree to download and use without annoying display glitches

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a black box randomly appear in Excel?

Random black boxes or circles in Excel are typically display glitches caused by hardware graphics acceleration issues, outdated Office software, corrupted installation files, or conflicting third-party add-ins.

How do I know if a specific Excel workbook is corrupted?

If the black box or circle only appears in one specific file and not in new or other existing workbooks, the file itself might be corrupted. Try copying the data into a brand-new workbook to test.

What does disabling hardware graphics acceleration do in Excel?

Disabling hardware graphics acceleration stops Excel from using your computer's graphics hardware (GPU) to render graphics, forcing it to use software rendering. This often resolves screen flickering and display artifacts.

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