cell in excel spreadsheet is gray and cant get it clear

Select the gray cell in Google Sheets, choose Fill color (paint bucket) → Reset, and if the gray remains, remove the conditional-formatting rule that controls that cell.

Remove the gray formatting

1. Select the affected cell.
2. Click Fill color → Reset.
3. If that does not work, select Format → Clear formatting.
   This also removes other formatting from that cell, such as font, borders, and number formatting. ^1^

If the gray returns or cannot be cleared

The shading may be controlled by a rule rather than a normal fill:

1. Select the cell.
2. In Google Sheets, open Format → Conditional formatting.
3. In the side panel, look for a rule whose range includes that cell.
4. Edit or delete that rule.
5. Also check Format → Alternating colors and remove the banding if its range includes the cell.

In Excel, the corresponding command is Home → Conditional Formatting → Clear Rules → Clear Rules from Selected Cells. ^2^

If formatting commands are unavailable

Because the workbook is only shared with you, the worksheet may be protected or your access may not permit formatting. A protected sheet can specifically prevent users from changing cell and conditional formatting. ^3^

Open the original file in Excel and check Review:

• If you see Unprotect Sheet, the owner must unprotect it or give you the password.
• If you only have view access, ask the owner to grant edit access or remove the gray formatting.
• If you can edit values but not formats, ask the owner to allow Format cells under the sheet-protection options.

As a final check, download/open the .xlsx file in the Excel desktop application. Select the cell and choose Home → Fill Color ▼ → No Fill. ^4^

References

1. How to Remove or Add Fill Color in Google Sheets - Solve Your Tech
2. [Web](https://support.microsoft.com/excel/use-conditional-formatting-to-highlight-information-in-excel#use-a-formula-to-determine-which-cells-to-format)
3. [Web](https://support.microsoft.com/excel/protect-a-worksheet#protect-a-sheet)
4. Apply or remove cell shading in Excel