How to Reset Excel to Default Settings

Sometimes Microsoft Excel may not work properly due to user modifications or changes made by other programs. In these cases, the easiest way to restore Excel functionality is to reset it to the factory default settings. 

In this tutorial, you will find two methods with detailed instructions on how to reset Excel to default settings, in order to remove any modifications made by you or by others.

How to Restore EXCEL Default Settings.

Method 1. Reset Excel settings from Registry.

Like many programs, Excel saves all settings and modifications made in the registry. To remove the stored Excel Settings from Registry in order to force Excel to load with the default settings, proceed as follows:

1. Close Excel.

2. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
3. Type regedit  and press Enter.

4. In Registry Editor navigate to the following key, according your Office version:

• Excel 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0Excel
• Excel 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0Excel
• Excel 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice15.0Excel
• Excel 2016, 2019 & Office 365: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftOffice16.0Excel

5. Finally, expand the Excel key and select and delete the Options subkey.

* Note: When prompted click Yes to confirm your decision. (this will force Excel to recreate the “Options” registry key at the next run with the default settings)

6. Close the Registry Editor.
7. Open Excel and you’re done.

Method 2. Uninstall & Re-Install Microsoft Office.

The second and final step, to fix Excel problems is to completely uninstall and reinstall MS Office.

1. Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SARA) utility.
2. When the download is completed double click to run the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe application.
3. Click Install to install the SARA utility.

4. When the installation is completed, click Agree and then click Yes.

5. Wait until the ‘Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant’ troubleshooting the issue.
6. Select the checkbox, at the left of the Office product name to select all the installed Office products and click Next.

7. Now wait until the Office removal process is complete and when this is done, restart your computer.
8. After restart, proceed and reinstall Office by following the instructions from these links:

• Office 365
• Office 2019
• Office 2016
• Office 2013

That’s all folks! Did it work for you?
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