At Aspyn Information Services, we strive to keep our clients productive regardless of which device they’re using. Recently, we’ve had several reports regarding a frustrating issue in the Google Sheets mobile app (both iOS and Android): users are unable to find the cell formatting options when selecting a single cell.
If you’ve tapped on a cell and found that the formatting toolbar seems to have vanished, don’t worry—you aren’t alone, and there is a simple workaround.
The Cause: Sheets thinks you want to edit the text content of the cell – The Default Text Editor
The root of the problem lies in how the mobile app handles input. Sometimes Sheets will default to text edit/entry mode When you select a single cell (usually accomplished by double-clicking the cell), the app often defaults to the “Text Editing Box” to allow for immediate data entry. This overlay effectively covers or suppresses the cell properties button, making it appear as though the formatting options are missing entirely.
Luckily, there are a couple of easy fixes:
Method 1: The Multi-Cell Select
The easiest way to bypass the text entry overlay is to select more than just the single cell. If you highlight two or more cells, the app will recognize that you are performing a broader action and will automatically display the full cell properties and formatting toolbar. You can often unselect the multiple cells and then select the individual cell you are interested in changing – Voila!
Sheets – multi cell select
Method 2: The Format Menu
If you only need to change the style of the text within that specific cell, look at the top navigation bar of the app. Tap the “Underlined A” icon (the formatting menu). This will open the cell properties sidebar, giving you full access to font styles, colors, alignment, and cell borders without needing to interact with the standard selection toolbar.
select the top menu format option
Proactive IT Management
Simple software quirks like this can disrupt your workflow when you’re on the move. At Aspyn, we focus on empowering Nanaimo businesses with robust, reliable IT support—whether that’s troubleshooting mobile app issues or scaling your infrastructure.
For more insights on keeping your systems running smoothly, check out our recent posts.
Need assistance with day to day IT challenges? Contact Aspyn Information Services for affordable Managed IT Services, IT Support, Custom Scripting, and Process Streamlining!
