'%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 Stop Excel on Android from Changing Typed Text Automatically
Question details
Users need to stop Excel from automatically altering previously entered text, measurements, and symbols on mobile devices.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Android
- Scenario
- Entering specific text, measurements, or special characters (like the @ symbol) into spreadsheet cells on an Android device.
- Observed behavior
- The application moves the cursor unexpectedly, alters previously entered measurements, or inserts unwanted spaces after certain symbols due to mobile autocorrect features.
Keep in mind that modifying your device's keyboard settings will apply system-wide, meaning autocorrect and predictive text will also be disabled for your text messages, emails, and other apps.
Disable Autocorrect and Predictive Text in Android Settings
Turn off system-wide text correction features on your Android device to prevent unwanted changes while typing in Excel.
Excel for Android relies on your device's default on-screen keyboard for data entry. The automatic text changes, cursor movements, and inserted spaces are typically caused by the Android keyboard's predictive text and autocorrect engine trying to fix perceived typos. Disabling these features resolves the issue for Excel, as well as on Android tablets experiencing the same behavior.
Navigate to your Android device's home screen or app drawer and open the 'Settings' application.
Scroll down and tap on 'System' or 'General Management', then select 'Language and input'. Choose 'On-screen keyboard' and tap on your active default keyboard (such as Gboard or Samsung Keyboard).
Locate the 'Text correction' or 'Smart typing' section. Toggle off the switches next to 'Auto-correction', 'Auto-replace', and 'Predictive text'.
Launch the Excel app, open a spreadsheet, and type the previously affected text or measurements to ensure the data is no longer altered automatically.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Mobile Spreadsheets
Looking for a reliable, fast, and feature-rich spreadsheet editor for your mobile device? WPS Office provides a lightweight alternative to Microsoft Excel, offering robust data entry, familiar mobile controls, and flawless file compatibility.
- 1. Download the App: Search for WPS Office in the Google Play Store and install the application on your Android phone or tablet.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Excel files without worrying about formatting loss.
- 3. Edit with Ease: Use the built-in mobile keyboards and specialized numeric keypads designed specifically for accurate spreadsheet data entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off autocorrect only for the Excel app on Android?
No, Android keyboard settings are managed at the system level. Turning off autocorrect or predictive text will disable it for all applications on your device.
Why does a space automatically appear after the @ symbol when I type in Excel?
This happens because the Android keyboard's predictive text engine assumes you are typing an email address or a social mention, automatically adding a space to separate the next word. Disabling predictive text stops this behavior.
Will disabling predictive text fix this issue on my Android tablet as well?
Yes, the solution is identical for Android tablets. Navigating to the tablet's language and input settings and disabling autocorrect will resolve the text alteration issues in Excel.
How do I turn predictive text back on if I need it for text messages?
You can re-enable predictive text at any time by returning to Settings > System (or General Management) > Language and input > On-screen keyboard, and toggling the auto-correction features back on.
