Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Excel from Highlighting the Entire Row and Column

Guest Writer Sep 29, 2026 874 views

Question details

The user wants to disable the feature that highlights the entire row and column when clicking on a single active cell in Excel.

How to Stop Excel from Highlighting the Entire Row and Column When One Cell is Selected

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Clicking a single cell visually highlights or selects the entire corresponding row and column, making it confusing to work with data.
Observed behavior: Excel either highlights the entire row and column due to the Focus Cell visual aid, or selects a large range of cells due to Extend Selection mode being active.

Before you start

Before proceeding, determine whether the entire row and column are merely highlighted visually (Focus Cell) or if the cells are actually being selected into a larger range (Extend Selection), as the troubleshooting steps differ for each scenario.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable the Focus Cell Feature

Use this solution if the row and column are visually highlighted to help you identify the active cell, but they are not actually selected.

Excel recently introduced the Focus Cell feature to help users track their current cell location in large datasets. While helpful, it can easily be mistaken for a full-row or full-column selection.

Open the View tab

Launch your Excel workbook and navigate to the **View** tab on the top ribbon.

Locate Focus Cell

Look for the **Focus Cell** button in the ribbon menu.

Toggle the feature off

Click the **Focus Cell** button to turn it off. The row and column highlighting will immediately disappear, and selecting a cell will only highlight that specific cell.

Quick Check: You can toggle this feature on and off anytime from the View tab whenever you need help tracking data across wide rows.

Solution 2

Turn Off Extend Selection Mode

Use this method if multiple cells are actually being selected into a range when you click around or use the arrow keys.

Manage Row and Column Highlighting with WPS Office

Easily Toggle Reading Layout in WPS Spreadsheet

If you need a reliable spreadsheet tool with customizable viewing features, try WPS Spreadsheet. It includes a built-in 'Reading Layout' mode that functions exactly like Focus Cell, allowing you to easily track your active cell in large datasets and toggle it on or off with a single click.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel (.xlsx) workbook.
3. Navigate to the View Tab: Click on the **View** tab located in the top menu ribbon.
4. Use Reading Layout: Click the **Reading Layout** button to toggle the crosshair highlighting on or off. You can even click the drop-down arrow to change the highlight color.

Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xls and .xlsx) formatsOne-click 'Reading Layout' toggle with customizable highlight colorsFamiliar ribbon interface for a seamless transition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Focus Cell feature in Excel?

Focus Cell is a visual aid introduced in Excel that highlights the entire row and column of the currently active cell. It is designed to help users easily identify their location in large datasets without actually selecting the entire row or column.

Why does my Excel say EXT at the bottom?

The 'EXT' indicator in the Excel status bar means that Extend Selection mode is active. This mode allows you to select a range of cells using your arrow keys or mouse without holding down the Shift key. You can disable it by pressing the Esc key or F8.

Can I change the color of the Focus Cell highlight in Excel?

Currently, Microsoft Excel does not provide a built-in option to customize the specific highlight color of the Focus Cell feature. However, alternatives like WPS Spreadsheet's Reading Layout do allow you to choose custom highlight colors.

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