How to Fix White Headings and Missing Gridlines in Excel While Scrolling
Question details
Users experience white row and column headings or disappearing gridlines while scrolling through spreadsheets.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Scrolling vertically or horizontally through large spreadsheets after a recent software update.
- Observed behavior
- The row and column headings turn white, and cell gridlines vanish, indicating a display rendering failure or bug.
Save your current spreadsheets and note your exact Microsoft Office version build number, as this display issue is typically tied to a specific recent update.
Roll Back Microsoft Office to a Previous Version
Since the missing gridlines and white headings are often caused by a buggy Office update, reverting to the last stable build is the most effective solution.
Microsoft occasionally releases updates that introduce display rendering bugs in Excel. Rolling back to a previous version restores the normal display behavior until a permanent patch is released.
Click the Windows Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
In the Command Prompt window, type 'cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun' and press Enter.
Type 'officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.xxxxx.xxxxx' (replacing the x's with your previously installed stable build number) and press Enter to begin the downgrade process.
Once the rollback is complete, open Excel, go to File > Account > Update Options, and click 'Disable Updates' to prevent Excel from reinstalling the buggy version.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
Disabling hardware graphics acceleration forces Excel to use software rendering, which can instantly resolve scrolling and display glitches.
Update Office to the Latest Build
If the rendering issue is a known bug, Microsoft may have already released a hotfix in a newer update.
Experience Bug-Free Spreadsheets with WPS Office
Tired of Excel rendering bugs like disappearing gridlines and white headings? Switch to WPS Office, a highly compatible and lightweight alternative that ensures smooth spreadsheet performance without unexpected display glitches after updates.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer in minutes.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Double-click your existing .xlsx files to instantly open them in WPS Spreadsheet with zero formatting loss.
- 3. Edit Without Glitches: Scroll seamlessly through massive datasets without losing your gridlines or row headings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel gridlines disappear when I scroll down?
This is typically caused by a display rendering failure or a bug introduced in a recent Microsoft Office update, which prevents Excel from properly refreshing the screen graphics as you scroll.
Why can't I find the Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration option?
Microsoft has completely removed the Hardware Graphics Acceleration toggle in newer builds of Office 365 and Excel. If it's missing from your File > Options > Advanced > Display menu, you cannot use this specific workaround.
Will rolling back my Office version delete my spreadsheets?
No, rolling back to a previous version of Microsoft Office only modifies the application software. Your saved .xlsx files, macros, and personal data remain completely safe and untouched.
How do I stop Excel from automatically updating again after I roll back?
Open Excel, go to File > Account, click on 'Update Options', and select 'Disable Updates'. It is recommended to re-enable this feature after a few weeks once Microsoft releases a verified fix.
