I had to fix an issue on Microsoft Excel where a box "Fixed objects will move" shows up and you can't press OK or close Excel or can't do anything. The only way to close Microsoft Excel was to end task via Task Manager.




Here's a list of combination of settings I've tried, test was done on Excel 2013 and 2016. Your case maybe different, as you may have Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, so try the combination below and see which combination fix for you.

Title Description on the Table below:




  • Extension Name - if your file has an extension name of XLS or XLSX
  • Move and Size with Cells - refers to the properties of an object/comment if it's selected or not. To find that property, right click on the object/comment, then select "Size and Properties". Object refers to a picture or screenshot on your spreadsheet like the one below.
  • Cut, Copy and Sort inserted objects - which can be found by going to File -> Options -> Advanced
  • Freeze and Unfreeze Panes



  • Visual Basic Script - Microsoft issued some lines of code that you can copy to your spreadsheet in case you need to keep the format to Excel 97-2003 format, as per this article https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/2601322/-fixed-objects-will-move-notice-comes-up-repeatedly-when-filtering-a-r
    Dim wksht As Excel.Worksheet
    Dim wb As Excel.Workbook
    Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
    
        For Each wksht In wb.Worksheets
            For Each cmt In wksht.Comments
               cmt.Shape.placement = xlMoveAndSize
            Next cmt
        Next wksht
    
    End Sub
  • Result - basically OK means "Fixed objects will move" didn't show up at all.



Extension Name Move and Size with Cells Cut, Copy & Sort inserted Objects Freeze & Unfreeze Visual Basic Script Result
XLS ticked ticked enabled none OK
XLSX ticked ticked enabled none OK
XLSX ticked not ticked enabled none OK
XLS move but don't size with cells on objects; don't move or size with cells on comments not ticked enabled none Error comes up
XLS move but don't size with cells on objects; don't move or size with cells on comments ticked enabled none OK
XLSX move but don't size with cells on objects; don't move or size with cells on comments ticked enabled none OK
XLSX move but don't size with cells on objects; don't move or size with cells on comments not ticked enabled none Error comes up