Office Compatibility Issues

How to Fix Excel Worksheet Layout Changes After Microsoft 365 Update

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel column widths, image sizes, and overall worksheet layouts appear distorted or altered after installing a Microsoft 365 update.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing an existing Excel workbook immediately following a Microsoft 365 software update.
Observed behavior: The worksheet layout is changed, causing column widths, image dimensions, and page layouts to look different from their original formatting.

Before you start

Before changing any settings, verify that you have not accidentally zoomed in or out of your worksheet, as varying zoom levels can make images and columns appear distorted.

Solution 1Recommended

Check and Restore Normal Workbook View

Updates or accidental clicks can sometimes switch your default display. Reverting to Normal view is the most common fix for unexpected layout changes.

Excel offers different ways to view a workbook, such as Page Layout or Page Break Preview. These views are designed for printing and can significantly alter how column widths and images are displayed on your screen.

Open the View tab

Launch Microsoft Excel, open the affected workbook, and navigate to the View tab located on the top ribbon.

Select Normal view

In the Workbook Views group on the far left, click on the 'Normal' button. Ensure it is not set to 'Page Layout' or 'Page Break Preview'.

Quick Toggle: You can also quickly switch to Normal view by clicking the grid icon at the bottom right corner of the Excel window, just to the left of the zoom slider.

Solution 2

Compare with a Previous Backup

If the view settings are correct but the layout is still permanently altered, reverting to an earlier backup can help identify specific changes.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Open Excel Files Without Layout Distortion

If Microsoft 365 updates continue to disrupt your worksheet layouts, try opening your files in WPS Office. It provides a familiar user interface, seamless migration, and is fully compatible with Microsoft formats, ensuring your data looks exactly as intended.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click 'Open', and select your existing .xlsx or .xls file.
3. View with Correct Layouts: Review your workbook. WPS Office preserves original column widths and image sizes exactly as they were formatted.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Maintains consistent layout formatting for column widths and images without unexpected update bugs.Lightweight design ensures fast loading and smooth performance.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate spreadsheet interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Excel column widths change automatically?

Column widths can appear changed if the default system display scale was altered during an update, if the default font was modified, or if the workbook view was inadvertently switched from Normal to Page Layout.

How do I stop Microsoft 365 from changing my formatting?

While you cannot prevent system updates, you can protect your worksheet formatting. Navigate to the Review tab and select 'Protect Sheet', then ensure 'Format columns' and 'Format rows' are unchecked to prevent accidental modifications.

Will I lose data if I restore an older version of my Excel file?

Yes, any data entered after the older version was saved will not be present in the backup. It is recommended to save a separate copy of your current file before restoring a previous version so you can manually copy over any new data.

Does Page Layout view change how the document prints?

No, Page Layout view is actually an exact representation of how the document will look when printed. It includes margins, headers, and footers, which is why on-screen column widths and images may look compressed compared to Normal view.

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