Steps to Resolve Black Background Issue in Excel Cells:

Steps to Resolve Black Background Issue in Excel Cells

  1. Open Excel:
    • Start by opening the Excel workbook where you are experiencing the issue.
  2. Select the Affected Cells:
    • Click and drag to select the cells that are showing a black background while entering data.
    • Alternatively, you can select the entire worksheet by clicking the triangle in the top-left corner of the grid (between row numbers and column letters).
  3. Clear Cell Formatting:
    • Go to the Home tab in the Ribbon.
    • In the Editing group on the far right, click the Clear button (an eraser icon).
    • Select Clear Formats from the dropdown menu. This will remove any background color or other formatting applied to the cells.
  4. Check Conditional Formatting:
    • If the issue persists, it might be due to conditional formatting.
    • Go to the Home tab in the Ribbon.
    • Click on Conditional Formatting in the Styles group.
    • Select Manage Rules.
    • In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager window, ensure you are looking at rules for the correct worksheet.
    • Delete any rules that might be causing the black background or adjust them as needed.
  5. Check for Cell Protection:
    • Sometimes cell protection settings can cause display issues.
    • Go to the Review tab in the Ribbon.
    • Click on Unprotect Sheet (if it is protected).
    • Go back to the Home tab, then to the Font group, and ensure the cells' background color is set to No Fill.
  6. Check Theme and Color Settings:
    • Go to the Page Layout tab in the Ribbon.
    • Click on Colors in the Themes group and ensure the theme colors are appropriate and have not been changed to unusual settings.
  7. Update Graphics Drivers:
    • Display issues can sometimes be caused by outdated graphics drivers.
    • Ensure your graphics drivers are up-to-date by visiting the website of your graphics card manufacturer and downloading the latest drivers.
  8. Check for Excel Updates:
    • Ensure that your Excel software is up-to-date.
    • Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now to check for and install any available updates.
  9. Test in Safe Mode:
    • Start Excel in Safe Mode to see if an add-in or startup program is causing the issue.
    • Close Excel, press Win + R, type excel /safe, and press Enter. Open the file in Safe Mode and check if the issue persists.
  10. Reset Excel Settings:
    • If none of the above steps work, resetting Excel to its default settings might help.
    • Go to File > Options > Advanced.
    • Scroll down to the General section and click Reset.

 

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