Excel’s function tooltips, called ScreenTips, can sometimes vanish or appear in the wrong place. This happens when display settings are changed or the tooltip window gets stuck off-screen. You can regain control over these helpful hints to improve your workflow.
This guide explains how to manage ScreenTip visibility and position. You will learn to restore missing tooltips and prevent them from blocking your cell view.
Key Takeaways: Control Excel Function Tooltips
- File > Options > Advanced > Show function ScreenTips: This setting turns the formula argument tooltips on or off globally.
- File > Options > General > ScreenTip style: Choose between showing full descriptions, brief names, or no ScreenTips for buttons and commands.
- Dragging the tooltip window: Click and drag the title bar of any visible ScreenTip to reposition it and clear your view.
How Excel ScreenTips Work and Why They Vanish
ScreenTips are small pop-up windows in Excel that provide information. Function ScreenTips appear when you type an equal sign and a function name, showing the required syntax and arguments. Feature ScreenTips appear when you hover your mouse over a ribbon command.
These tooltips can disappear for two main reasons. The first is a changed setting in Excel’s options. The second is a display glitch where the tooltip window renders outside your monitor’s visible area. This often happens after switching monitor resolutions or using Excel on multiple displays.
Types of ScreenTips in Excel
Excel manages two primary ScreenTip categories separately. Function ScreenTips are controlled in the Advanced options. They are specific to formula entry. All other ScreenTips, including those for ribbon buttons, are controlled in the General options. Understanding this separation is key to fixing visibility issues.
Steps to Restore and Reposition ScreenTips
Follow these methods to manage ScreenTips based on your specific problem.
Method 1: Enable Missing Function ScreenTips
- Open Excel Options
Click File on the ribbon, then select Options at the bottom of the menu. - Navigate to Advanced Settings
In the Excel Options dialog box, select the Advanced category from the left sidebar. - Find the Display Settings
Scroll down to the Display section within the Advanced options. - Check the ScreenTip Setting
Locate the checkbox for Show function ScreenTips. Ensure this box is checked to enable tooltips during formula entry. - Apply the Change
Click OK to close the dialog box. Test by typing =VLOOKUP( in any cell to see if the tooltip appears.
Method 2: Adjust General ScreenTip Style
- Access General Options
Go to File > Options and select the General category. - Locate User Interface Options
Find the section labeled User Interface options. - Change the ScreenTip Style
Click the dropdown menu next to ScreenTip style. Select Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips for full details. Choose Don’t show feature descriptions in ScreenTips for brief names only. - Confirm the Selection
Click OK. Hover your mouse over any ribbon button, like Paste or Bold, to see the updated ScreenTip.
Method 3: Move a Blocking Tooltip
- Make the Tooltip Appear
Begin typing a function like =SUM( in a cell to trigger the function ScreenTip. - Click and Hold the Title Bar
Move your mouse cursor to the top edge of the tooltip window until the cursor changes. Click and hold the left mouse button. - Drag to a New Position
While holding the button, drag the entire ScreenTip window to a different area of your screen. Release the mouse button to drop it there. - Test the New Location
The tooltip will now open in the last position you dragged it to. This new position is saved for your current Excel session.
If ScreenTips Still Do Not Appear Correctly
Excel Tooltips Are Completely Invisible
If no ScreenTips appear after checking all settings, reset the Excel window position. Close all Excel files. Right-click the Excel taskbar icon and select Close window. Reopen Excel. This clears window position data that may be hiding tooltips off-screen.
Tooltips Appear Behind Other Windows
This indicates a window focus issue. Ensure you are using the latest updates for Windows and Excel. You can also try disabling hardware graphics acceleration in Excel. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Scroll to the Display section and check the box for Disable hardware graphics acceleration. Restart Excel after this change.
Only Some Functions Lack Tooltips
Custom functions or functions from add-ins may not have built-in ScreenTips. This is normal. For standard Excel functions missing tooltips, repair your Office installation via Windows Settings > Apps > Microsoft Office > Modify > Quick Repair.
ScreenTip Display Options Compared
| Item | Show function ScreenTips (Advanced Options) | ScreenTip Style (General Options) |
|---|---|---|
| Controls tooltips for | Formula syntax and arguments | Ribbon commands and buttons |
| Primary setting | Single checkbox to toggle on/off | Dropdown with three style choices |
| Effect on workflow | Essential for writing complex formulas | Helpful for learning ribbon features |
| Default state | Enabled (checkbox is checked) | Set to show feature descriptions |
You can now restore missing Excel tooltips and stop them from blocking cells. Use the Advanced options for function help and the General options for ribbon descriptions. If a tooltip is in the way, simply click its top edge and drag it elsewhere. For persistent display problems, try a Quick Repair of your Office installation from the Windows Settings menu.