Microsoft Excel is one of the most used spreadsheet software in the world as it provides tools to write and interpret data accurately. However, often, users struggle to understand how to move cells in table on a worksheet, or unable to fix can’t insert new cells errors. Resolving these issues swiftly is crucial for seamless data management. Read below to fix such problems using various Excel tools and settings.

How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 1
  • How to Fix Move Excel Column or Can’t Insert New Cell Errors
  • Method 1: Clear All Extra Rows and Columns
  • Method 2: Remove Hyperlinks From All Graphics
  • Method 3: Modify Advanced Excel Options
  • Method 4: Modify/Delete Comments via Selection Pane
  • Method 5: Change Comment Property with Running Macro
  • Method 6: Manually Change Comment Property

How to Fix Move Excel Column or Can’t Insert New Cell Errors

There can be various reasons for move Excel column issues to appear, such as:

  • Pre-existing formatting in the cells of the Excel workbook
  • Graphics in the workbook, including hyperlinks
  • Improper selection of Excel options
  • Incorrect settings in the Comment Property

Method 1: Clear All Extra Rows and Columns

You may receive this error if one formula has been applied to the entire worksheet. Hence, one of the first methods you can try to fix this issue is to clear all first rows and columns as follows:

  1. Click the heading cell on your worksheet.

  2. Press Ctrl + Shift and then press the right arrow key to select the entire row as shown.

Press Ctrl + Shift and then press the right arrow key to select the entire row. excel can't insert new cells - 2
  1. From the Home tab, click on the Clear option shown highlighted below.
Navigate to the Editing menu in the Home tab and click on the Clear option. excel can't insert new cells - 3
  1. Click on Clear All to remove the entire row.
Click on Clear All to remove the entire row. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 4
  1. Following the instructions in step 2 , select all rows right below your data and clear these as well.
Press Ctrl + Shift and then press the down arrow key, to select all the rows. - 5

This method should remove all the formatting and formula in the entire sheet; you should not receive an error while adding new rows and columns. If the problem continues, try the next method.

Also Read : How to Freeze Rows and Columns in Excel

If you have pictures and other graphics in your worksheet, you can try to resolve the move excel column error by simply removing the hyperlinks from the graphics. You can follow these simple steps to remove the hyperlinks from your worksheet:

  1. Right-click on the picture that you have inserted in the worksheet.

  2. Navigate and click on the Remove Link option as shown.

Excel right click picture select Link option to remove hyperlink - 6
  1. Save the Excel worksheet by pressing Ctrl + S keys together and close the window.

  2. Relaunch Excel and continue the project. Right-click on pic and select Link option to add hyperlink again.

Excel right click picture select Link option to attach remove hyperlink - 7

Method 3: Modify Advanced Excel Options

If you are still confused about how do you move cells in table on a worksheet, you may want to change the Excel Options manually and safely as follows:

  1. Click on the Office Button at the top-right corner.
Click on the Office Button at the window's top-right corner. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 8
  1. Now locate and click on the Excel Options as shown.
Now locate and click on the Excel Options at the bottom-left corner of the window. - 9
  1. From the left-side menu, click on the Advanced option.
From the left-side menu, click on the Advanced option. - 10
  1. Scroll down and locate Display options for this workbook menu.
Scroll down and locate Display options for this workbook menu. how do you move cells in table on a worksheet - 11
  1. Under For objects, show: option, select All as illustrated below.
Under For objects, show: options select All. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 12
  1. Finally, click OK .
Click OK How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 13

If the previous methods do not fix the Excel column error , you can also try to resolve excel can’t insert new cells error by changing the comment property of the workbook by using the Selection Pane. You can follow these simple steps to use the Selection Pane tool:

  1. In the Excel window, from Home tab, click on Find & Select drop-down.
Navigate and click on Find & Select drop-down. how do you move cells in table on a worksheet - 14
  1. Click on Selection Pane …
Click on Selection Pane. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 15

Method 5: Change Comment Property with Running Macro

You can simply copy and paste the following Macro code:

Sub AllCommentsListProperties()



Application.ScreenUpdating = False



Dim rngCmts As Range



Dim c As Range



Dim wsA As Worksheet



Dim wsN As Worksheet



Dim i As Long



Dim lPos As Long



Dim myPos As String



Set wsA = ActiveSheet



On Error Resume Next



Set rngCmts = wsA.Cells _



.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeComments)



On Error GoTo 0



If rngCmts Is Nothing Then



MsgBox "no comments found"



Exit Sub



End If



Set wsN = Worksheets.Add



wsN.Range("A1:B1").Value = _



Array("Address", "Position")



i = 1



For Each c In rngCmts



With wsN



i = i + 1



On Error Resume Next



lPos = c.Comment.Shape.Placement



Select Case lPos



Case 1



myPos = "Move/Size"



Case 2



myPos = "Move Only"



Case 3



myPos = "No Move/Size"



End Select



.Cells(i, 1).Value = c.Address



.Cells(i, 2).Value = myPos



End With



Next cws 



N.Range("A1:B1").EntireColumn.AutoFit



Application.ScreenUpdating = True



End Sub

Method 6: Manually Change Comment Property

If you are still figuring out how do you move cells in table on a worksheet, you can also try manually changing the Comment Property by following the steps below.

  1. Right-click on any cell in the Excel workbook.
Click on the Show/hide comments. - 16
  1. Navigate the cursor to the corner of the comment. Right-click and choose Format Comment… option as illustrated below.
Click the Format comment option. how do you move cells in table on a worksheet - 17
  1. Navigate to the Properties tab.
Navigate to the Properties tab. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 18
  1. Select Move but don’t size with cells option and click OK.
Select, Move and size with cells or Move but don't size with cells. How to Fix Move Excel Column Error - 19

Q1. Why do I get errors while using Excel?

Ans. There can be various reasons for errors to occur with Microsoft Excel which include pre-existing formulae and formatting of the values in the workbook and/or graphics.

Q2. How can I fix Excel errors?

Ans. There are many ways to fix Excel errors primarily by clearing all formatting of Excel workbook.

Q3. How to change comment options in Excel?

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We hope this guide helped to fix can’t move or insert new cells in table errors. Drop your queries or suggestions in comment section below.