How to Stop Excel from Automatically Creating New Rows and Columns in Table?

When you open an Excel worksheet and start working on a table, it automatically creates new rows and columns. However, if you want to prevent Excel from automatically creating new rows and columns in the table, it is possible to disable this feature.

You can prevent Excel from automatically creating infinite rows and columns in the table using Excel Options, Group Policy Editor, or Registry Editor.

In this gearupwindows article, we will guide you on preventing Excel from automatically creating new rows and columns. You can apply these methods in Windows 11/10 or other operating systems.

How to Prevent Excel from Automatically Creating New Rows and Columns in Table using Excel Options?

To stop Excel from automatically creating new rows and columns in a table using Excel Options, use these steps:-

Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel.

Step 2. Click on the File menu.

Step 3. Click Options.

Step 4. When you’re done, the Excel Options window will appear on your computer. Switch to the Proofing tab.

Step 5. Under the “AutoCorrect options” section, click the AutoCorrect Options button.

Step 6. Following that, the AutoCorrect window will open. Switch to the AutoFormat As You Type tab and uncheck the checkbox from the “Include new rows and columns in table Automatically as you work.”

Step 7. Click OK.

Step 8. Click OK.

How to Stop Excel from Automatically Creating New Rows and Columns in Table through Local Group Policy Editor?

To prevent Excel from automatically creating new rows and columns in a table through Local Group Policy Editor, use these steps:-

Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 or 10 computer.

Step 2. Then, navigate or browse to the following path in the left sidebar of Local Group Policy Editor:-

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Excel Options > Proofing > Autocorrect Options

Step 3. On the right-side of the “Autocorrect Options” folder, double-click on the policy name Include new rows and columns in table.

Step 4. Select Disabled.

Step 5. Click Apply.

Step 6. Click OK.

Step 7. Finally, reboot your computer to apply the changes.

How to Block Excel from Automatically Creating New Rows and Columns in Table using Registry Editor?

To block Excel from automatically creating new rows and columns in a table through Registry Editor, use these steps:-

Step 1. First, open the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Then, navigate or browse to the following path on the left side of Registry Editor:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0

Step 3. Next, right-click on the 16.0 folder and select New > Key.

Step 4. Name the newly created key as excel.

Step 5. Now, right-click the excel folder and pick New > Key. Name the newly created key as options.

Step 6. Next, right-click on options key and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Stop 7. Set its name as autoexpandlistrange.

Step 8. Double-click on the newly created autoexpandlistrange REG_DWORD and set its “Value data” to the following:-

• 0: Allow Excel to create new rows and columns in Table automatically.
• 1: Block Excel from creating new rows and columns in Table automatically.

Step 9. Click OK.

Step 10. Reboot your computer to apply the changes.