Excel: Switch off scrolling with arrow keys

If you want to prevent scrolling with the arrow keys in an Excel document, this can be done in a flash.

How to stop your arrow keys in Excel

Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to jump quickly with the cursor into the different cells of your Excel worksheet. To prevent this, there is a key on your keyboard with a lock function. Since the keyboards vary, the name or location of the key may be slightly different from what is described below.

• With the usual keyboards, the name of the key is usually either "scroll" or "scroll lock". Sometimes the term "scrolling" is also chosen. We use the term "roles" below.
• Very often you will find the "Scroll" button in the same row as the function buttons. Usually relatively far in the right corner of the rows of buttons and often as a second assignment.
• If it is a second assignment, you must also press the function key to activate the "lock function". The function key is usually abbreviated to "FN" and is usually located in the lower left corner of the keyboard.

Why should you use the "scroll lock" in Excel at all?

If you have activated the "Scroll lock", you can still use the arrow keys to move in all directions of your Excel worksheet. The big difference is:

• Before you have pressed the "Scroll" key, jump with the cursor into the different cells of the worksheet if you use the arrow keys.
• After you activate the function of the "Scroll" button, you can still use the arrow keys to move over your worksheet, but the cursor does not move with you.
• This is useful if, for example, you are looking for a number in a bulky Excel worksheet that you want to enter in a specific cell. In this way, you move quickly through the worksheet and do not run the risk of "losing" your cell.