how do i fix this problem 'you cannot add cells because the last row or column contains formulas or formatting blocking' - i have tried going to the last row and column and clearing contents

Hi @Carla Denham

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I see you're encountering a very persistent error message in Excel. Before we try the troubleshooting steps, it's very helpful to know exactly which version you're using, as the steps can differ slightly.  The request mentioned you are using Excel on Android. Could you please confirm if this is correct?  Also, if possible, could you tell me the version number of your Excel app? 

Please follow below troubleshooting steps: 

-Identify Your Last Used Row & Column: Scroll through your sheet and find the last row that contains your actual data. Do the same for the last column.  > Please try to delete unused rows and unused columns: Selection the entire last row and column > go to the Home tab > click Clear > choose Clear All    

-Remove conditional formatting > Go to Home tab > Conditional Formatting > Clear Rules > Clear Rules from Entire Sheet > Save and restart Excel  

Please refer to the following documents: 

Clean excess cell formatting on a worksheet - Microsoft Support 

Locate and reset the last cell on a worksheet - Microsoft Support 

If deleting the rows and columns doesn't work, the file itself might be corrupted. As a final step, try moving only your essential data to a completely new, blank Excel file. Important: When you paste the data, make sure to paste it as Values to avoid carrying over the old, corrupted formatting.

Please give those steps a try. If the issue persists, please feel free to provide us with any additional details.

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