This is a design limitation, not a user error, and it deserves a straightforward workaround rather than a lecture on browser-based software. The user, Mr305jr, is trying to complete an assignment in the browser version of Excel and has hit a wall: the pivot table location text box simply will not accept typed input for another sheet. The frustration is real, and the silence from the tool is unhelpful. We see this as a clear example of a tool that assumes a fixed workflow, leaving anyone with a slightly different need, like a student on a browser, stuck.
The practical fix is simpler than most users expect. Instead of typing the target location into the locked text box, create the pivot table on the same sheet first. Once it appears, cut the entire pivot table and paste it onto the destination tab. The browser version handles drag-and-drop and cut-and-paste between sheets reliably, even if it refuses to let you type a reference. This workaround bypasses the interface restriction without requiring any special permissions or add-ins. For those who need the pivot table to live on a different tab from the start, the alternative is to select the destination tab before opening the pivot table creation dialog, then click the location field and point to a cell on that same tab with the mouse. The browser version will accept a mouse click selection even when it blocks keyboard entry.
What this reveals about the current state of browser-based spreadsheets is worth noting. The browser version is a capable tool for many tasks, but it still treats certain operations, like cross-sheet pivot table placement, as edge cases rather than core features. The locked text box is a small symptom of a larger gap between what the interface offers and what users actually need to do. For the student trying to complete an assignment, that gap becomes a roadblock that wastes time and erodes confidence. The tool should empower, not interrogate.
Our opinion is clear: the workaround exists, but the limitation should not. If you are using the browser version and hit this wall, copy and paste your pivot table to the correct tab. It takes ten seconds. Then, consider whether a tool that makes you work around basic placement is the right tool for your long-term data work. The browser version is fine for quick looks, but for assignments and real analysis, a spreadsheet that lets you type where you want your data to go is a better investment of your time.