Office Performance Issues

How to Fix Mouse Scrolling Not Working in Excel and Outlook

Ayan Masood Sep 25, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to use their mouse scroll wheel in Microsoft Excel and Outlook, despite the mouse working perfectly in other applications like web browsers.

How to Fix Mouse Scrolling Not Working in Excel and Outlook

Product: Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Scrolling through spreadsheets or emails using a mouse wheel.
Observed behavior: The mouse scroll wheel stops functioning entirely within Office applications, which is often caused by a recent Office build update, add-in interference, or configuration error.

Before you start

Verify that your mouse scroll wheel functions correctly in other programs, such as a web browser, to rule out hardware failure. Save all open Excel workbooks and Outlook drafts before modifying Office settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Roll Back Microsoft Office to a Previous Build

If a recent update caused the scrolling issue, reverting to an older, stable version of Office using the Command Prompt can resolve the software bug.

This method uses the Office Click-to-Run executable to downgrade your Office installation to a previous version where scrolling functioned normally. You will also need to disable automatic updates temporarily.

Close all Office applications

Ensure that Excel, Outlook, Word, and any other Office programs are completely closed.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Click the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click on 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.

Navigate to the ClickToRun directory

Type the command 'cd %programfiles%\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun' and press Enter.

Execute the rollback command

Type 'OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17531.20120' and press Enter to begin the downgrade process.

Disable automatic Office updates

Once the update finishes, open Excel, go to File > Account, click 'Update Options', and select 'Disable Updates' to prevent the buggy version from reinstalling.

Roll Back Microsoft Office to a Previous Build

Keep Updates Paused: Remember to occasionally check Microsoft's release notes and re-enable updates once they have officially patched the scrolling bug.

Solution 2

Disable Conflicting Excel or Outlook Add-ins

Faulty or outdated COM add-ins can sometimes interfere with mouse functionality in Office apps. Disabling them can restore scroll wheel support.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Bug-Free Experience

If Microsoft Office updates frequently disrupt your workflow with bugs like broken mouse scrolling, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers a stable, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that keeps you productive without forced background updates breaking core features.

1. Download and install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation.
2. Open the Spreadsheets tool: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Spreadsheets' to access the robust Excel alternative.
3. Edit with ease: Open your existing .xlsx files directly and enjoy smooth, uninterrupted scrolling and editing.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), Word (.docx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) file formats.Lightweight installation ensures smooth performance and reliable mouse scrolling.Familiar tabbed user interface guarantees a zero-learning-curve transition.Free to use with comprehensive tools for all your spreadsheet and document needs.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my mouse scroll work in Chrome but not in Excel?

This indicates a software-specific issue, often caused by a bug in a recent Microsoft Office update or a conflict with an Office add-in, rather than a physical hardware failure with your mouse.

Will rolling back Office delete my Excel files or Outlook emails?

No. Rolling back the Microsoft Office application version only reverts the software's executable files to an earlier state. All your personal documents, spreadsheets, and emails will remain entirely safe and unaffected.

How do I re-enable Office updates once the scrolling bug is officially fixed?

Open any Office application like Excel, navigate to File > Account, click on the 'Update Options' button, and select 'Enable Updates' from the dropdown menu to resume automatic patching.

Office App Problems