Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove Black Letters After Pressing Alt+Enter in Excel

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 9, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to hide or remove the black shortcut indicator letters that appear below the sheet tabs when using Alt+Enter to add a line break.

How to Remove Black Letters After Pressing Alt+Enter in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding a line break inside an Excel cell using the Alt+Enter shortcut.
Observed behavior: Black shortcut letters (keyboard indicators) appear on the screen and do not disappear automatically, causing a visual distraction.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current spreadsheet to prevent any accidental data loss while testing keyboard shortcut solutions.

Solution 1Recommended

Press the Alt Key Again (Quick Workaround)

Since this is a known Office display bug related to KeyTips, toggling the Alt key is the quickest way to hide the shortcut indicators.

Microsoft Office utilizes the Alt key to activate ribbon menu shortcuts (KeyTips). Sometimes, pressing Alt+Enter triggers these indicators, and they fail to disappear automatically due to a display glitch.

Complete your text entry

Finish typing your text and inserting the line break inside the Excel cell using Alt+Enter.

Press the Alt key

Tap the 'Alt' key once on your keyboard on its own.

Verify the indicators are hidden

Look at the screen, particularly below the sheet tabs, to ensure the black shortcut letters have disappeared.

Press the Alt Key Again (Quick Workaround)

Instant Fix: This workaround instantly removes the visual clutter without interrupting your workflow.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Office

Installing the latest Microsoft Office updates can provide a permanent fix for known display bugs.

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If you are frustrated by Microsoft Excel's display bugs and shortcut indicator glitches, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and stable environment for all your spreadsheet tasks without the annoying visual issues.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Open Your Excel Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly with perfect formatting preservation.
3. Edit Without Glitches: Use Alt+Enter to add line breaks seamlessly without triggering persistent shortcut indicator bugs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do black letters appear when I press Alt in Excel?

Microsoft Office uses the Alt key to activate KeyTips, which are visual keyboard shortcuts for navigating the ribbon menu. Pressing Alt+Enter sometimes triggers this feature inadvertently due to a known display bug, leaving the letters visible on the screen.

Can I permanently disable the Alt key shortcuts in Excel?

Excel does not provide a built-in option to completely disable the Alt key ribbon shortcuts. However, keeping your Office software updated to the latest version usually prevents these indicators from getting stuck on the screen.

Are there other ways to insert a line break without Alt+Enter?

Yes. You can select the cell and enable the 'Wrap Text' feature found in the Home tab. This automatically wraps text within the cell boundaries, though it will not force a break at a specific word like the Alt+Enter shortcut does.

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