'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Select Non-Adjacent Excel Cells in VMware Horizon on Mac
Question details
The user is unable to select multiple non-adjacent cells in Excel using a Mac running a corporate Windows session via VMware Horizon.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to highlight multiple disconnected cells in an Excel spreadsheet hosted on a remote Windows session via VM.
- Observed behavior
- The standard Ctrl-click modifier is not passed through correctly by the Mac to the virtual machine, preventing the selection of non-adjacent cells.
Ensure your Mac keyboard is fully functional and verify whether the modifier key issue happens only in Excel or across all applications within your VMware Horizon session.
Adjust VMware Horizon Keyboard Mapping
Configure the VMware Horizon Client to correctly map the Mac Command key to the Windows Ctrl key to enable standard Excel shortcuts.
By default, VMware Horizon may not pass the Mac Control or Command key through to the remote Windows session as a Windows Ctrl key. Adjusting the key mapping in the client preferences often restores full functionality.
Launch the VMware Horizon Client on your Mac and navigate to 'Preferences' from the top application menu bar.
Select the 'Keyboard & Mouse' tab in the preferences window, then click on the 'Key Mapping' or 'Mac Keyboard' options.
Ensure that the Mac Command key (or Control key) is explicitly mapped to the Windows Ctrl key. Save your changes.
Return to your remote Excel session and hold your configured modifier key while clicking to select non-adjacent cells.
Test Excel Online and Safe Mode
Rule out local application errors within the remote session by testing Excel for the web and running the desktop app in Safe Mode.
Contact IT Support for VM Configuration
If the modifier key fails system-wide, the remote session policies or VM installation might require an IT review.
Switch to Native WPS Office for Mac
Instead of relying on a virtual machine or remote desktop to edit Excel files, use WPS Office directly on your Mac. It provides a native, lightweight, and free solution with full compatibility for Microsoft Excel formats, eliminating keyboard mapping issues entirely.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the native installer for macOS.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and easily open your existing .xlsx or .xls files without altering their formatting.
- 3. Select Cells Natively: Simply hold the Command key and click to select multiple non-adjacent cells, utilizing native Mac keyboard behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Ctrl-click work on my physical Windows PC but not on my Mac through VMware?
When using a Mac to access a Windows Virtual Machine, keyboard modifiers like Command and Control must be accurately translated by the VMware Horizon Client. If the key mapping is absent or blocked by an IT policy, the shortcut signal is never sent to the remote Excel application.
Can I use the Command key instead of Ctrl to select non-adjacent cells in VMware?
It depends on your VMware Horizon key mapping settings. By default, some configurations map the Mac Command key to the Windows Start key. You must explicitly map it to the Windows Ctrl key in the client's Keyboard & Mouse preferences to use it for cell selection.
Does this issue affect other Microsoft Office applications in the VM?
Yes. If the keyboard modifier is not passed through correctly to the virtual machine, actions like using Ctrl-click to select multiple objects in Word, PowerPoint, or even files in Windows File Explorer will also fail.
How do I select non-adjacent cells in Excel without a mouse or modifier key?
You can use the Shift + F8 keyboard shortcut in Excel. Select your first cell, press Shift + F8 (Add to Selection mode), use the arrow keys to move to the next cell, and press the Spacebar to select it. Repeat this process for all desired cells.
