How to Fix VBA Project Explorer Window Covering Excel on Mac
Question details
The user needs to fix the VBA Project Explorer window that covers the entire Excel VBA interface on a Mac, preventing access to the title bar and window controls.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Using the VBA editor in Excel for Mac.
- Observed behavior
- The VBA Project Explorer window expands to cover the entire interface, making it impossible to move the window, resize it, or access the title bar.
Ensure that you have completely quit Microsoft Excel (Cmd + Q) before attempting to modify or move any container folders.
Reset the Microsoft Excel Container Folder
Moving the Excel container folder forces the application to recreate its default settings, which resolves saved window configuration glitches.
Depending on your macOS version, the container folder name will differ. macOS Big Sur and newer versions use 'Microsoft Excel', while Catalina, Mojave, and older versions use 'com.microsoft.Excel'.
Make sure Microsoft Excel is completely closed. You can do this by pressing Cmd + Q while the application is active.
Open Finder, click on the 'Go' menu at the top of the screen, hold down the 'Option' key, and select 'Library' from the dropdown list.
In the Library folder, locate and open the 'Containers' folder.
Find the folder named 'Microsoft Excel' (for macOS Big Sur and later) or 'com.microsoft.Excel' (for macOS Catalina and earlier).
Drag this folder to your Desktop. This serves as a temporary backup and removes the corrupted window configuration from Excel's active directory.
Reopen Microsoft Excel and launch the VBA editor. Excel will automatically recreate a fresh container folder and the Project Explorer window size should be reset.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Spreadsheet Experience on Mac
If you frequently encounter interface glitches, window overlapping, or management issues in Microsoft Excel for Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers a smooth, familiar user interface without the layout bugs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the standard macOS installation process and open WPS Spreadsheet.
- 3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing Excel workbooks into WPS to continue working seamlessly in a stable environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find the com.microsoft.Excel folder on my Mac?
In newer macOS versions like Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura, Apple changed how container folders are named and displayed. The folder is now simply named 'Microsoft Excel' instead of 'com.microsoft.Excel'.
Will moving the container folder delete my Excel files?
No, moving the container folder only resets application preferences and cached window configurations. Your saved workbooks and spreadsheets remain safe in their original locations.
How do I access the hidden Library folder on Mac?
Open Finder, click the 'Go' menu at the top of the screen, and hold down the 'Option' (Alt) key on your keyboard. The 'Library' option will dynamically appear in the dropdown menu. Click it to access your user library.
