I am getting a double character, only numbers when I press the key once in excel only on a Mac

Question

I am getting a double character, only numbers when I press the key once in excel only on a Mac

PatrickTirino 10

When I press a number key I am getting a double character for numbers only in Excel only. It does not happen in any other program. It is happening when I use my bluetooth key pad as well.

Paul McDevitt 0 Reputation points

2025-10-02T17:12:48.5866667+00:00

I have exactly the same issue and this happened after the latest update to Macos, Tahoe 26 and Microsoft Excel 16.102.
Any time I enter a letter or number into a cell, directly, i get the first character repeated.
If I enter into the Formula bar instead, I don't get the first character repeated.
ZulKarnaina Mess 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T10:41:38.2133333+00:00

I have the same issue. I am on Mac Os Tahoe 26.0.1 and using Mac Excel version 16.102. Turning off autocomplete and adjusting the keyboard repeat slider did not work. It is only happening in Excel.
ZulKarnaina Mess 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T16:59:48.5133333+00:00

I removed office and did a fresh reinstall of MS Office 365 for Mac. Excel no longer repeats character or number typed.

3 answers

Your answer

Paul McDevitt 0 Reputation points

2025-10-02T17:12:48.5866667+00:00

I have exactly the same issue and this happened after the latest update to Macos, Tahoe 26 and Microsoft Excel 16.102.
Any time I enter a letter or number into a cell, directly, i get the first character repeated.
If I enter into the Formula bar instead, I don't get the first character repeated.
ZulKarnaina Mess 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T10:41:38.2133333+00:00

I have the same issue. I am on Mac Os Tahoe 26.0.1 and using Mac Excel version 16.102. Turning off autocomplete and adjusting the keyboard repeat slider did not work. It is only happening in Excel.
ZulKarnaina Mess 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T16:59:48.5133333+00:00

I removed office and did a fresh reinstall of MS Office 365 for Mac. Excel no longer repeats character or number typed.

Answer 1

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 430K

If restarting the Mac doesn't cure it, the most common cause of this sort of glitch is the need to apply updates to macOS, the Office software or both, Since you haven't indicated the current Version Numbers I can't verify that in your case but that is the place to start.

Keeping everything updated is especially important if you are an early adopter of Apple's Latest & Greatest – Tahoe.

PatrickTirino 10 Reputation points

2025-09-26T00:01:49.6933333+00:00

I am using MacOS 26.1 and Excel Version 16.101.1 (25092124)
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 430K Reputation points

2025-09-26T02:16:55.3366667+00:00

Then use Help> Feedback in the Excel menu to report the issue to the development team. It should be reported to Apple as well. If it's a bug you'll have to wait for a fix to be supplied by way of an update unless someone can provide a workaround. FWIW, I'm running the same build of Excel on Sequoia [15.7] without any such problem.

It seems that a similar issue occurred when Sequoia was first introduced. It affected only the first character typed, so simply backspacing to delete the duplicate worked until the fix was shipped.

The Excel Online web app may be a temporary solution.
ZulKarnaina Mess 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T13:33:07.9433333+00:00

I am on Mac Excel 16.103. The most current version of Excel 365 for Mac is 16.89.1 (24092212), Wonder if I should roll back. My OS is Tahoe 26.01
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 430K Reputation points

2025-10-22T21:12:48.67+00:00

Version 16.89.1 (24092212) is not the most current version of Office 365. It dates back to Sept 22 of last year... the content in parentheses is in yy/mm/dd format followed by the number 12. It makes no sense to revert to a version of the software which predates the new OS by nearly a year.

Version 16.103 is the most current release but it is for the Beta Channel which still may not be in complete compliance with Tahoe. Early releases of ner editions of an operating system often provide compatibility issues. The better course IMO is to install Office & OS updates as they are pushed out

Answer 2

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 430K

To All:

This is an OS compatibility issue which has occurred on several occasions when Apple rolls out a new edition of macOS. It cannot be resolved by reinstalling the software.

Please see my September 25th Comment in this thread.

Paul McDevitt 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T18:17:15.1766667+00:00

Mine was finally resolved by updating to the new MacOS fix. No need to update Office.

Answer 3

Diana Mariz 4,120 Independent Advisor

Hi,

Have you tried to reinstall Excel app or delete the plist? If you don't know it, please follow the steps below:

Go to hidden library by going to "go menubar" > press and hold "option" key to show library

go to containers > look for microsoft Excel folder then delete it

Paul McDevitt 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T12:59:45.1966667+00:00

I haven't yet. Wondering why, before the most recent upgrade to Tahoe, I didn't have this issue, but now it's an Excel issue that requires re-installation?

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I am getting a double character, only numbers when I press the key once in excel only on a Mac

3 answers

Your answer