Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Excel Escape Key Not Working by Disabling Grammarly Add-in

Muhammad Talha Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to use the Escape key in Microsoft Excel to cancel actions or close dialog boxes.

How to Fix Excel Escape Key Not Working (Grammarly Add-in Conflict)

Product: Microsoft Excel, Grammarly
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to cancel an ongoing formula input or exit a dialog box in Excel using the keyboard.
Observed behavior: The Escape key completely stops functioning in Excel, even when launched in Safe Mode, but continues to work normally in Windows and other applications due to interference from the Grammarly add-in.

Before you start

Verify that your Escape key is physically functioning by testing it in another application, such as your web browser or Notepad, before troubleshooting Excel settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Grammarly Integration for Microsoft Excel

Turn off Grammarly specifically within Excel to restore your Escape key functionality while keeping Grammarly active for other applications.

The desktop version of Grammarly can sometimes intercept keyboard shortcuts in specific applications. Disabling its integration with Excel is the most efficient way to resolve this conflict without completely losing your writing assistant.

Open Grammarly Settings

Locate the Grammarly floating widget on your screen or open the Grammarly Desktop app from your Windows system tray, then click on the 'Settings' gear icon.

Navigate to Blocked Apps

Go to the 'Settings' menu and find the section labeled 'Blocked Apps' or 'App Integrations'.

Disable Excel Integration

Find Microsoft Excel in the list of active applications and toggle the switch to disable Grammarly for this specific program.

Restart Microsoft Excel

Close all active Microsoft Excel windows and reopen the application, then test the Escape key to ensure it is working.

Disable Grammarly Integration for Microsoft Excel

Grammarly Remains Active Elsewhere: By using this method, Grammarly will continue to check your spelling and grammar in Microsoft Word, web browsers, and other applications.

Solution 2

Uninstall the Grammarly Desktop Application

If you no longer need the Grammarly desktop app or if disabling the integration fails, uninstalling the software will permanently clear the conflict.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Escape key only stop working in Excel and not in Word?

Certain background applications and add-ins, like Grammarly, interact differently with spreadsheet environments compared to word processors. The add-in may inadvertently intercept the specific system hook that Excel uses for the Escape key.

Will I lose Grammarly entirely if I disable it for Excel?

No. When you disable the integration specifically for Microsoft Excel through the Grammarly app settings, the tool remains fully active in your other programs, including web browsers and Microsoft Word.

Why didn't opening Excel in Safe Mode fix the Escape key issue?

While Excel Safe Mode disables internal COM and Excel add-ins, Grammarly often runs as a system-level desktop application that overlays on top of text fields, meaning it can still interfere even when Excel's internal add-ins are turned off.

What should I do if disabling Grammarly doesn't fix the problem?

If the issue persists, check for other background software that might be intercepting keyboard shortcuts. You can also manually inspect Excel's internal add-ins by navigating to File > Options > Add-ins and disabling them one by one.

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