How to Fix "Excel Fixed Objects Will Move"

The "Fixed objects will move" error in Excel creates one of the most annoying situations. In many instances, the error will keep popping up. Other times, it freezes your document completely. Luckily, those who have encountered the problem have always found a way to fix it. This guide explains how; read on.

Part 1. Excel Fixed Objects Will Move: What It Means and the Causes

The "Fixed objects will move" error in Excel means you won't be able to create any pictures or charts. It also means you can't insert any column or row in your spreadsheet.

The warning often occurs when trying to save the Excel workbook after completing the command. This peculiar error message can also happen when you have a workbook with filters. As you try to get rid of those filters, this troublesome error shows up. It disrupts the layout and presentation of your crafted spreadsheets.

There are many possible causes of the "Excel fixed objects will move" error, including:

• Objects tied to their particular cells
• Frozen rows and columns
• Incompatible workbook format
• File corruption

Part 2. How to Fix the "Excel Objects Will Move" Error?

As you have learned, there are many possible causes of the "Fixed objects will move" error. Therefore, fixing this problem involves a trial-and-error approach. Try the following tested and proven solutions and see which works for you.

Solution 1. Find and Remove All the Objects from Excel Worksheet

Use the steps below to find and remove all the objects from Excel Worksheet. Remember to back up the original file before applying the steps to avoid losing data.

Step 1. From "Home," click the "Find & Select" option. Choose "Go To Special" from the drop-down.

You can also press F5 on your keyboard, then choose the Special option to open the same options tab.

Step 2. In the "Go to Special" tab, click Objects and then click OK.

Step 3. You'll be returned to your worksheet, and all the objects will be selected. You only need to hit Delete on your keyboard to remove them all.

Step 4. You should now find that all the objects have been removed from your worksheet. So, verify the status of the error.

Solution 2. Turn on the “Don’t Move or Size with Cells” Feature

If you have inserted some graphics in the Excel workbook, they may be the ones behind the error message. This is what you need to do:

Step 1. Click an individual graphic image you've inserted.

Step 2. Head to the "Picture Format" tab.

Step 3. Under "Size group," hit the "Size and Properties" button at the bottom-right corner.

Step 4. From the "Format Picture" pop-up menu, expand the "Properties" section.

Step 5. Choose "Move and size with cells."

Solution 3. Use Visual Basic Script to Fix

You can also use the visual basic script to fix the Excel "Fixed objects will move" error. The method involves writing a few code lines. Check the steps out:

Step 1. Head to the Developer tab in your workbook and hit the Visual Basic button.

Step 2. A new VBA window will open. Here, click the Insert menu and choose Module.

Step 3. A Module editor to write codes will open.

Write the code, every word, as shown in this screenshot.

Step 4. Hit the green Play icon at the top menu bar. You can also press F5 on your keyboard to play the code.

Now close the VBA window, save the file, and check whether the error is gone.

Solution 4. Allowing Excel to Move Fixed Objects

In this method, you release objects that may be tied to their respective cells, allowing them to change positions. These are the steps:

Step 1. Right-click on your object, and from the menu, choose Format or Format Control.

Step 2. Select the Properties tab first in the Format window. Under the Object positioning, you'll usually see the "Don't move or size with cells" option selected. Change it to "Move and size with cells," then click OK.

That will release the locked object, allowing it to move freely with its cells.

Step 3. Right-click on the shape object or picture and click the Format Shape option.

Step 4. A sidebar will open on the right (if all settings are default in Excel). In this sidebar, click the "Size and Properties" button marked (1) in the picture below. After that, click Properties and choose the "Move and size with cells."

That's it! The error shouldn't show up anymore when you open your Excel file.

Solution 5. Unfreeze Rows and Columns

Unfreezing rows and columns may stop the "Fixed objects will move" error in Excel. Follow these steps:

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Step 1. Click the "View" tab, and under it, expand Freeze Panes. Next, choose Unfreeze Panes.

Step 2. Check if the frozen lines and the error have disappeared. Typically, frozen rows are indicated by a thin horizontal line. Frozen columns have a vertical line.

Solution 6. Save the Workbook As XLS or XLSX

Saving your file in a standard Excel workbook format (with .xlsx or .xls extension) may help fix the error. Here's what to do:

Step 1. Hit the File menu button and choose Save as.

Step 2. In the Save as window, click the drop-down menu next to Save as type.

Step 3. A long list of file formats for your workbook will appear. Choose the relevant format from the list, for instance, Excel Workbook or Excel 97-2003 Workbook.

Step 4. After selecting your chosen format, click OK.

You can now go to the location of your saved workbook and open it. The "Fixed objects will move" error should no longer appear.

Solution 7. Check for Corrupt Excel Files

If the error has persisted to this point, the workbook you're working on may be corrupt. You can use a third-party file repair tool to fix the file and resolve the "Fixed objects will move more" issue.

Repairit File Repair is one of the top-rated file repair software on the market. Millions of people use it to restore corrupted or damaged office documents in a few clicks. It's a secure and easy-to-use software that runs on both Mac and Windows. It repairs all sorts of corruption with very high success rates, even for severely damaged files.

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• Repair damaged Excel files with all levels of corruption, including blank files, files not opening, unrecognizable format, unreadable content, files layout changed, etc.

• Repairs all kinds of data stored in damaged Excel files such as tables, charts, formulas, comments, images, etc.

• Support all formats of Excel files: XLSX/XLSM/XLTX/XLTM/XLS

• Perfectly repair corrupted files with a very high success rate, without modifying the original file.

• No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.12~macOS 15.

• Except Excel, Repairit also supports all formats of PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ZIP, and Adobe files.

You can repair your document in a few simple steps as follows:

Step 1. Open Repairit and choose the File Repair option in More Types Repair mode.

Step 2. Add your corrupted file(s) by clicking the +Add button.

Step 3. Hit the Repair button to start repairing your files.

Step 4. Preview and save the repaired files in your preferred location.

Conclusion

You don't want the "Excel Fixed objects will move" error to bother you anymore. After reading the above guide, you now know what triggers this peculiar error message and how to fix it. Apply the steps under the various methods and make this issue disappear once and for all!