Can’t adjust row height in Excel: Troubleshooting tips

Excel row height allows the user to alter the height of rows as needed so that the data in the rows can be seen properly, and we can also make our table consistent in shape. To adjust the row height in Excel, just choose the row for which we want to alter the height, then select the row height option from the right-click menu list. Give the height by which we want the rows to be expanded. This approach does not always function for any obvious reason, leaving users unable to modify row height. If you type text in the Times New Roman font style in Excel 2013, the row height is set to 16 points by default. This row height fluctuates based on the display scaling (DPI), ranging from 16 points at 100% dpi to 14.3 points at 200 percent dpi. There are, thankfully, alternative options. Follow through for more information.

Step by step process – Can’t adjust row height in Excel – How to fix

  1. Firstly, open your Excel document.
  2. After that select a cell from each row, you need to expand, you can use the “Sheet select”, icon to select the whole sheet.
  3. After that click on “Home”.
  4. Click on “Format”.
  5. After that click on “Row Height”.
  6. Scale up or down the height of the rows. Excel scaling metrics consist of the points scale.
  7. Finally, click on “OK”

Adjusting the row height from the rows itself works well, however, it may fail to adjust especially if scaling is applied. If you want to scale to remain but increase or decrease the row height the method above is perfect. This allows you to adjust the row height and ensure you have the correct scaling enabled to proceed. The row height will automatically adjust based on your preferences. Let’s say you have scaled text to 18pt, you can adjust to 18pt, then scale accordingly depending on how many lines of text you have. If you have multiple lines of text you can adjust them by of course selecting all of them using the sheet select icon. 


excel basics advanced excel excel workbook

Things to keep in mind when using this method

  • Although the Excel grid looks to be static at times, you may alter the page layout by utilizing the Excel tool of row height or column width.
  • The simplest way to change the rows is to drag the mouse up or down. You may achieve the requested row height by using the row height option in the Format menu.
  • To resize the full dataset, select it all and then click the Auto-fit button. This automatically creates the necessary rows/columns.
  • If a user wishes to personalize the sheet, they may do so by selecting the page layout option and adjusting the row height in inches, centimeters, or millimeters. It is the most powerful and easy strategy that we may employ in our daily lives.

Ok, we have studied this method in depth — however, you are still not being able to adjust your row height. What can we do then, what will help adjust our row heights? Don’t worry — we’ve got more tips for you to follow; we will make sure you have this issue resolved before your deadline approaches.

Row formatting is disabled for users – how to fix inability to adjust row height in Excel

Row formatting gives users the ability to adjust properties of a cell in a sheet. If this is disabled for users, they’re unable to edit the necessary row features which include the ability to adjust the row height. It isn’t as complicated as it sounds; you just need to adjust the sheet properties, and ensure the correct checkboxes are selected and unselected to allow for row height to be edited.

This is what will show if a sheet lock or protection setting has been set to negate changes made to row formatting. You can still edit the text and format the width of the cell. However, you can’t adjust the row height as permissions for that isn’t set for you to edit those preferences.

surface pro 8Surface Go 3surface pro 8

Step by step process – Row formatting is disabled for users – how to fix inability to adjust row height in Excel

  • Firstly, open your Excel document.
  • After that click on “Review”.
  • Now click on “Protect Sheet”.
  • Ensure “Format rows” is selected, also make sure that the first two sheet lock and unlock settings are also selected.
  • Now click on “OK”.

That’s it, you will have now adjusted your preferences in a way that you can now have users adjust row height and make sure they get it the exact height they require. You may be asking why you just unprotect the worksheet, well there is a reason the sheet owner has put restrictions on it, this is to protect the data and keep necessary information on especially a shared document from being altered in a way that could potentially breach security.

Excel’s Row Limit

Although we have a sufficient number of rows, count in excel to handle a large amount of data, there is a restriction of the number of rows in excel, which is restricted to 1048576 rows in Excel 2019 Office 365. Every workbook has a set amount of memory allocated to it so that Excel can run correctly without crashing. If we still have more data than the 1048576-row limit, we can input extra sheets.

Therefore adjusting and hiding rows of unnecessary information may resolve the height adjustment error that is imposed on a sheet, especially on an older sheet. Follow through for more information.

Step by step process – Fix Excel’s Row Limit

  • Firstly, select the top left corner of your sheet consisting of data, in our example, it’s cell A1.
  • Now press the (Control/Command + Shift + Down) keys, this will select all the cells which contain data.
  • Click on the first row under your dataset and press (Shift + Space), this will select the whole row.
  • Now, hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys while pressing the down arrow; this will take you to the end of the final row.
  • Right-click on the sheet and click on “Hide”
  • It will conceal all of the selected rows and just show the rows from the dataset.
  • Finally, follow the procedures at the top to modify the row height, which may solve the problem.

You’re probably already aware that you can manually resize cells, columns, and rows by dragging and stretching them. You could even know how to pick multiple cells and stretch them, or even the entire spreadsheet, to resize all cells to fit the most data.

Step by step process – Can’t adjust row height in Excel – How to fix

Step by step breakdown

  • Firstly, open your Excel document.
  • After that select a cell from each row, you need to expand, you can use the “Sheet select”, icon to select the whole sheet.
  • After that click on “Home”.
  • Click on “Format”.
  • After that click on “Row Height”.
  • Scale up or down the height of the rows. Excel scaling metrics consist of the points scale
  • Finally, click on “OK”.

Final results

That’s it for this Blog thank you for taking time out to read our content, please feel free to email our team about how it went if you followed the steps or if you need more help with the questions we answered in this Blog.

Saajid Gangat

Saajid Gangat has been a researcher and content writer at Business Tech Planet since 2021. Saajid is a tech-savvy writer with expertise in web and graphic design and has extensive knowledge of Microsoft 365, Adobe, Shopify, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and more! You can connect with Saajid on Linkedin.

Recent Posts