Excel Arrow Keys Scroll Instead of Moving Cells on Mac (Scroll Lock and Ctrl+Arrow Fixes)
Quick answer: If the arrow keys scroll the sheet instead of moving the selected cell in Excel for Mac, Scroll Lock is probably on. Microsoft documents Shift+F14 to toggle it. If you are trying to jump to the edge of your data, use Cmd+Arrow, not Ctrl+Arrow, which macOS uses for Mission Control and Spaces.
Symptoms
The whole sheet scrolls and the selected cell does not move
Arrow keys move the cursor inside a cell instead of selecting a new one
Ctrl+Arrow switches desktops or opens Mission Control
Home, End, Page Up and Page Down do not work
Likely causes and fixes
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet scrolls, selection stays | Scroll Lock is on | Press Shift+F14 |
| Arrow moves a cursor in the cell | Cell is in edit mode | Press Return or Escape first |
| Ctrl+Arrow switches desktops | macOS shortcut conflict | Use Cmd+Arrow in Excel |
| Home or End do nothing | MacBook has no such keys | Use Fn with the arrow keys |
Fix 1: Turn Scroll Lock off
Press Shift+F14. Microsoft notes that a MacBook has no F14 key, so you may need a USB keyboard that does. An external keyboard with an F13 to F15 row works for this. If standard function keys are off, you may also need Fn. See Function Keys in Excel for Mac: The Fn Setting and the F-Key Shortcuts That Matter.
Fix 2: Use Cmd+Arrow for the edge of the data
In Excel for Mac, move to the edge of the current data region with Cmd+Arrow. Ctrl+Arrow is the Windows habit and conflicts with macOS desktop switching. Add Shift to select while moving.
Fix 3: Leave edit mode
If you are typing in a cell, arrow keys move the text cursor. Press Return or Escape to leave edit mode, then use the arrows.
Fix 4: Navigation keys on a MacBook
Microsoft documents Fn with the arrow keys for Home, End, Page Up and Page Down on a MacBook. For the full map of Windows navigation keys, see Windows Keyboard on Mac: Where Every Key Went (Ctrl, Alt, Windows, Delete, Home, End, Print Screen).
FAQs
How do I turn off Scroll Lock in Excel on Mac?
Press Shift+F14, using an external keyboard if your MacBook has no F14.
How do I jump to the last row of data on a Mac?
Press Cmd+Down arrow.
Why does Ctrl+Arrow not work in Excel for Mac?
macOS uses Ctrl+Arrow for Mission Control and Spaces. Use Cmd+Arrow in Excel.