How to prevent or disable edit mode by double-clicking a cell in Excel?


In Excel, clicking twice on a cell usually enables its editing interface. If you want to avoid initiating the edit mode via double mouse click, this guide will teach you how. You may deactivate edit mode by clicking twice on the active sheet of paper and twice on the entire workbook using the methods described in this article.

What is Excel

Microsoft Excel provides a spreadsheet tool which forms a component of Microsoft's Office suite of applications for businesses. Microsoft Excel could be used to set up, supervise, and calculate information in a spreadsheet. Whenever information is created or revised, researchers as well as other workers can make it easier to study by arranging it with programs like Excel. Excel has several boxes called cells that are structured in rows as well as columns. Each of these cells contain data.

Common Excel Use Cases

Excel is most often used in corporate contexts. It is utilized for business assessment, personnel administration, management of operations, and profits reporting, among other applications. Excel uses a large array of organized cells for data arrangement and editing answer algebraic issues. Clients can gather information within the spreadsheet using graphing tools, pivoting charts, and equations. Visual Basic for Programs is a programming language used to create macros that is bundled with spreadsheet applications.

What is Edit Mode

A cell's information can be modified straight in the cell. You may also alter the cell's data by entering the formula bar. Excel is in edit mode if you vary what's inside of a cell. In Edit mode, several Excel functions behave differently or are inaccessible. When Spreadsheet is in Editing mode, the phrase Edit displays in the bottom left corner of the Excel programme window.

How does Excel act Uniquely in Edit Mode?

Several functions are inaccessible in Edit mode. While Excel is in Edit mode, for instance, you can't use formatting conditions or modify a cell's data arrangement. Whenever Excel is in Edit mode, the navigation keys operate somewhat differently. Merely dragging the cursor from cell to cell, the arrow keys in Edit mode move the pointer within the cell.

Edit Mode can be Enabled or Disabled

If you try to utilise the editing feature and nothing happens, it may be deactivated. By adjusting an Excel option, you may enable or disable Edit mode.

  • Go to the Files tab.

  • Then to Options.

  • Click Advanced.

OR

If you are Excel 2007 −

  • Then click the Office Button

  • Go to Excel Options, and

  • Click the Advanced category.

Select any of the following Modifying options −

  • Click the Allow writing straight in cells option to activate Edit mode.

  • Untick the Allow editing directly in cells option to turn off Edit mode.

How to exit Edit Mode ?

To exit Edit mode, perform any of the actions listed below −

Click ENTER

Excel quits the editing window and chooses the cell immediately below the active cell

You may also press ENTER to select a different nearby cell

  • Navigate to File Tab.

  • Then go to Options.

  • And click Advanced.

OR

If you are Excel 2007 −

  • Then click the Office Button

  • Go to Excel Options, and

  • Click the Advanced category.

Select one of the following Editing options −

  • Click ENTER

  • Move the selection check box to keep the selection in your editing cell.

  • Select After hitting ENTER.

  • Move the selection check box.

  • Click the arrow next to Direction.

  • Choose a direction from the available choices to alter the motion of the selections.

Tap the TAB Key

These exits Edit mode and picks the cell to the right of the currently selected cell. SHIFT+TAB picks the cell on the left.

Choose an Alternate Cell

Excel quits Edit mode and chooses the cell in question.

F2 will be Pressed

Excel quits Edit mode, and the pointer remains in place.

Prevent Editing Cells by Clicking Twice in a Specific Range of the Current Sheet

The preceding VBA code might assist you if you desire to deactivate the editing feature by clicking twice on a particular number of active worksheets.

  • Right click on the sheet tab of the worksheet

  • A menu will appear, Select View Code which will deactivate the Edit mode for the selected range of cells.

  • In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window that appears, paste the contents of the VBA script following into the Code window.

VBA code − Prevent editing cells by clicking twice in a specific range in the current sheet.

  • To quit the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, hit Alt + Q

Double-clicking on any of the cells throughout the whole worksheet will no longer open the edit mode.

Prevent Editing Cells by Clicking Twice in the Whole Workbook

This section discusses avoiding cell editing by double-clicking across the worksheet. Please do the following.

  • To launch the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, press Alt + F11.

  • Double-tap ThisWorkbook in the left Project window in the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window

  • Copy and paste the VBA code below into the ThisWorkbook (Code) window.

VBA code − Prevent editing cell by clicking twice in the workbook.

  • To quit the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, hit Alt + Q.

Double-clicking on any of the cells throughout the whole worksheet will no longer open the edit interface.

Conclusion

Entering edit mode may be frustrating. This article should have helped you solve your doubts and tutorials on enabling and disenabling the edit mode on double click

Updated on: 11-Oct-2023

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