Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Esc Key Not Working in Excel 365

Muhammad Talha Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use the Esc key to cancel actions or edit formulas in Microsoft Excel 365, despite the key functioning normally in other applications.

How to Fix the Esc Key Not Working in Excel 365

Product: Microsoft Excel 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing formulas or entering data into spreadsheet cells.
Observed behavior: Pressing the Esc key does not cancel the current formula edit or cell action due to keystroke interference from third-party applications or add-ins.

Before you start

Test the Esc key in another application like Notepad or your web browser to confirm the issue is isolated to Excel and not a hardware failure.

Solution 1Recommended

Quit or Disable Grammarly for Excel

Since Grammarly is known to intercept keystrokes in Office applications, disabling it for Excel often restores the Esc key's functionality.

Desktop applications that provide writing assistance, like Grammarly, often monitor keystrokes across all active windows. This can inadvertently block standard Excel shortcuts like the Esc key during formula edits.

Locate the Grammarly app

Check your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) for the running Grammarly desktop application icon.

Quit the application

Right-click the Grammarly icon and select 'Quit' to completely close the software, or disable its suggestions specifically for Excel.

Test the Esc key

Restart Excel, double-click a cell to begin editing a formula, and press the Esc key to verify if the issue is resolved.

Quick Fix: If you heavily rely on Grammarly, you do not need to uninstall it. Simply pausing it while working in Excel is usually enough to stop the keyboard conflict.

Solution 2

Temporarily Disable Excel COM Add-ins

If Grammarly is not installed, another active Excel add-in might be interfering with your keyboard inputs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Spreadsheet Experience

If Excel 365 add-in conflicts continue to disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and stable environment for managing your spreadsheets without frustrating keyboard bugs.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any conversion.
3. Edit Seamlessly: Edit your formulas and use keyboard shortcuts like the Esc key smoothly and without interference.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .xls) formatsStable formula editing without third-party keystroke interferenceLightweight installation with fast loading timesFamiliar user interface for immediate productivity

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Esc key work everywhere except Excel?

Third-party applications like Grammarly or specific COM add-ins often intercept keystrokes exclusively within Excel, preventing the Esc key from registering during formula edits.

Can a Bluetooth keyboard cause the Esc key to fail in Excel?

While hardware connectivity issues are possible, if your Bluetooth keyboard's Esc key works in other programs, the issue is almost certainly a software or add-in conflict within Excel itself.

Are there other ways to cancel a formula edit in Excel without the Esc key?

Yes, you can click the red 'X' icon located directly next to the formula bar to cancel your current edits when the Esc key is unresponsive.

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