Struggling with your Excel spreadsheet because your **arrow keys** are seemingly broken? Likely, it’s not a hardware issue at all, but a feature in Excel known as the **Scroll Lock** being enabled. When active, it changes the function of the arrow key, causing the worksheet to move instead of the cell cursor. As a result, some users might incorrectly believe their arrow keys are not working in Excel.
To assess and rectify this, first check if the **Scroll Lock** light is on your keyboard. If it is, simply press the Scroll Lock key. Alternatively, if your keyboard lacks this key, press the **Start button** on your PC, type ‘On-Screen Keyboard’, click on it and press the **Scroll Lock key** on the on-screen keyboard. Following these steps should restore your arrow keys’ normal functionality. However, if they’re still not working, another possibility could be that **Sticky Keys** are enabled. Go to the **Ease of Access keyboard settings**, disable the **Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys**, click **Apply** then **OK**.
In conclusion, if your arrow keys seem to malfunction within Excel, it might not be a hardware issue. Problems like these are often caused by the activation of certain features, specifically the Scroll Lock or Sticky Keys. By following the mentioned troubleshooting steps, it’s quick and easy to restore normality to your productivity tool.