Can't enter data in Excel spreadsheet on Mac

Question

Can't enter data in Excel spreadsheet on Mac

Adam Leyland 0

I have just bought MS Office for my Mac. When I try to enter data in Excel nothing happens. I've gone to Review to make sure the sheet is not protected. It isn't. There is another box to the right called Protect. There are two options: 1) Restrict permission. This says there are no restrictions. 2) Always open as read only. This has a cross through it. I've also clicked 'Check Accessibility' and after checking a few things it says (at the bottom) Accessibility: Good to go.

What on earth is happening. Please help.

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4 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Allan Solomon Mejia 10,225

Hi @Adam Leyland

The Restrict Permission, Always Open Read-Only, and Check Accessibility options aren’t worksheet-protection controls, so the Accessibility message isn’t related to the inability to type.

First, create a completely new blank workbook and try entering data:

If you can edit the new workbook, the original file is read-only or locked. In the affected workbook, open File and select Always Open Read-Only to remove its check mark. Microsoft documents this as the Excel for Mac setting that controls a workbook’s read-only state.
If you cannot edit a new blank workbook either, check Office activation. An unactivated or unlicensed Office for Mac installation can open files for reading but cannot create or edit them.

To activate Office:

Open Excel or Word.
Select Sign In when prompted. If no prompt appears, open a blank file and select File > New from Template > Sign In.
Sign in using the Microsoft account associated with the Office purchase.
Allow Office to validate the license.

If Office already shows as activated but editing remains unavailable, confirm that the purchase appears under the same Microsoft account used in Excel. Then follow Microsoft’s Office for Mac activation troubleshooting guidance or contact Microsoft Support.

References:

Activate Office for Mac

Troubleshoot Office for Mac installation or activation

Set or clear read-only status in Excel for Mac

Help make this community better for everyone: If this answer helped or resolved your issue, please accept it or upvote it. If not, share more details in a comment so we can continue the discussion and find the right solution. Thank you.

Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:12:32.6033333+00:00

Hi, Thanks. I've followed your instructions. It won't allow me to open a new blank workbook either. However, Excel already shows as being activated. How do I find out if the purchase appears under the same MS account used in Excel, please?
Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:21:32.9466667+00:00

Hi, thanks. The issue I'm experiencing is happening even with a new blank doc. In terms of activation, I'm already signed in. I don't know how to check that the purchase appears under the same MS account that was used in Excel. How do I contact Microsoft Support please?
Allan Solomon Mejia 10,225 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:21:57.8833333+00:00
Thanks for confirming. To check whether the Office purchase is linked to the account currently used in Excel:

In Excel, select Excel > About Microsoft Excel and note the account or license owner shown there.

Sign in to Microsoft Services & subscriptions with that same account. An active Microsoft 365 subscription or linked Office purchase should appear on this page.

Also check the Microsoft account order history. Set the date filter far enough back to cover the original purchase.

If nothing appears, try any other personal or work email address you may have used when you purchased or first activated Office. Microsoft provides additional account-identification guidance here:

I forgot the account I use with Microsoft 365

View your Microsoft Store order history

If Office was purchased through Apple’s App Store rather than directly from Microsoft, check the subscription or purchase history under the Apple ID used for the purchase, because it might not appear in Microsoft’s order history.

Please let us know what product and status appear under Services & subscriptions, but don’t post your full email address or product key publicly.
Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:23:19.3766667+00:00

Thanks. I need to stop now to cook dinner but will come back to this. Much appreciated.

Answer 2

DaveM121 937K Independent Advisor

1

Open Excel.

On the top menu, select Excel - Preferences - Edit.

Ensure the 'Edit directly in cell' setting is enabled.

Then check if you can enter data in the cells.

2

If not, is this problem only affecting existing documents or also new documents?

If this problem is affecting all Excel documents, at the top left of your Desktop, click the Apple icon and select 'About this Mac', what version of MacOS is installed on your computer?

Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:04:24.91+00:00

Thanks. Unfortunately 1 didn't work as Edit directly in cell was already enabled and 2 is affecting new documents not just existing. My OS is Tahoe.
DaveM121 937K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-30T17:12:40.84+00:00

Thank you for that information, in that case, there is no problem caused by your MacOS version.

What version of Microsoft Office do you have, is that a subscription to Microsoft 365 or a standalone version of Office like Office 2019, 2021 or 2024 and if so, is that Office Home, Standard or Pro Plus.
Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:15:01.8533333+00:00

Thanks. Unfortunately 1 didn't work as Edit directly in cell was already enabled and 2 is affecting new documents not just existing. My OS is Tahoe and I'm using MS Office 2024
DaveM121 937K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-01T05:26:34.88+00:00

Just checking in with you, how are you proceeding with this problem.

Answer 3

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.8K

It would help if you would provide specific Version Numbers of both macOS & Office as well as indicating whether it is a Microsoft 365 Subscription or the one-time purchase Office 2024 package

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Answer 4

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 85,456

which version of MacOs do you have installed? All versions of Office now require Sonora or later to have full feature support. On MacOs less than Sonora office documents are read only.

note: as Office only supports the latest 3 version of MacOs, now that Golden Gate has been released, soon support for Sonora will be dropped.

Adam Leyland 0 Reputation points

2026-09-30T17:14:06.3766667+00:00

I'm using Tahoe