How to Disable Scroll Lock in Excel on PC

What is Scroll Lock?

The Scroll Lock setting determines what happens when you use the Arrow Keys in Excel. When Scroll Lock is off (the default setting), the Arrow Keys allow you to navigate and select different cells within a worksheet. When Scroll Lock is enabled, the Arrow Keys will instead “scroll” through the active window. You will not be able to navigate to different cells (using the Arrow Keys), instead you will only be able to change the viewing area, similar to clicking the arrows on the Scroll Bars.

There are times when you may want Scroll Lock enabled, though in general, most Excel users only activate this feature by accident.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to check if Scroll Lock has been turned on and how to disable it.

Have you turned on Scroll Lock?

There is a scroll lock button on some keyboards, as well as a scroll lock light, which indicates whether or not the scroll lock button has been pressed and turned on. The scroll lock button is usually on the top right hand corner of the keyboard. If the scroll lock light is turned on, that means that scroll lock is active. If you do not have a scroll lock button and light on your keyboard, you will need to enable the scroll lock status in Excel. If Scroll Lock is on and the Scroll Lock status is enabled in the status bar, the status bar will display the words Scroll Lock in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Though if Scroll Lock is NOT enabled in the status bar, it may still be on but you will not be aware.

To make sure the visual display of Scroll Lock is enabled, right click the status bar. The customize status bar menu will pop up. Make sure the Scroll Lock option is checked. Again, this is only checking the option to SHOW you in the status bar whether or not Scroll Lock is on, not actually turning Scroll Lock on or off.

Now, when Scroll Lock is on, it will display on the bottom of your Excel screen.

How to Tell if Scroll Lock is Enabled

1. If “Scroll Lock” is showing in the bottom-left corner of the Excel window, then YES, scroll lock is enabled. If you do not see “Scroll Lock,” it is NOT enabled.

2. If you feel that Scroll Lock may be enabled, but you do not see the words in the bottom-left corner, ensure that the steps have been taken to enable the visual display as mentioned above.

How to Disable Scroll Lock

1. Your keyboard has a Scroll Lock Key, simply press this key to turn it off. The Scroll Lock message will disappear, and you will be able to change the active cell.

2. Your keyboard may not have a Scroll Lock Key. In which case, open the search menu on your computer and type “On-Screen Keyboard.” Go back to Excel with the keyboard displayed, and hit the Scroll Lock key, “ScrLk,” and this should turn it off.