Apps · Repair guide

How to fix Excel not responding

Error messageMicrosoft Excel (Not Responding)

10 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Check the status bar for a running task and let it finish, then restart Excel. If it keeps freezing, start it with excel /safe; if that works, turn off add-ins. For slow workbooks, set Formulas > Calculation Options to Manual to see whether calculation is the cause.

What it means

"Not Responding" means Excel has stopped reacting, often because it is busy calculating, refreshing data or saving a large workbook. Repeated freezes usually come from add-ins, missing updates, heavy workbook content such as whole-column formulas or thousands of hidden objects, or a slow network location. Testing other workbooks shows whether one file or Excel itself is the problem.

Common causes

  • Excel is busy calculating, refreshing or saving
  • A faulty or outdated add-in
  • Missing Office or Windows updates
  • Heavy workbook content, such as whole-column formulas or many hidden objects
  • Files opened from a network drive, SharePoint or a remote session
  • A file in an Excel startup folder that loads every time
  • Damaged Office program files

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Check for a task in progress and let it finishEasy

  1. Look at the status bar at the bottom of the Excel window for messages such as calculating, saving or refreshing.
  2. Wait for that task to finish before clicking anything else.
  3. Press Alt + Tab to look for a hidden dialog box waiting for an answer.
  4. If nothing changes after several minutes, close Excel: right-click Start, select Task Manager, select Microsoft Excel and choose End task.
  5. On a Mac: press Option + Command + Esc, select Excel and choose Force Quit.

Why it helps: Excel often looks frozen while it finishes a long calculation or save.

02Test with another workbookEasy

  1. Restart the PC, then open Excel with a new blank workbook.
  2. If a blank workbook works, open a different file you use often.
  3. If only one workbook freezes, focus on the workbook fixes below (calculation, contents, location).
  4. If every workbook freezes, focus on updates, safe mode, add-ins and repair.

Why it helps: This tells you whether the problem is a single file or Excel itself.

03Install Office and Windows updatesEasy

  1. In Excel, go to File > Account, then select Update Options > Update Now. If you only see Enable Updates, select it first.
  2. Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install everything and restart.
  3. On a Mac: in Excel choose Help > Check for Updates, then select Update.

Why it helps: Microsoft has fixed many Excel hangs, including slow PivotTable refreshes and files with many shapes, in updates.

04If the file is on a network or SharePoint, test a local copyEasy

  1. Save a copy of the workbook to your Downloads folder. (Documents and Desktop are often backed up by OneDrive, so they may not count as local.)
  2. Open the local copy and see whether Excel still freezes.
  3. If the local copy works, the slowdown comes from the file's location, such as a network drive, SharePoint, a redirected folder or a remote desktop session.
  4. Work on the local copy, then copy it back when you are done, or ask IT about the connection.

Why it helps: Excel can hang while it waits on a slow network or online location.

05Start Excel in safe modeEasy

  1. Close Excel.
  2. Press Windows + R, type excel /safe and select OK.
  3. Or hold Ctrl while you double-click the Excel shortcut, and select Yes when asked about safe mode.
  4. If Excel works in safe mode, an add-in or startup file is the likely cause; go to the next fix.
  5. To leave safe mode, close Excel and open it normally.

Why it helps: Safe mode starts Excel without add-ins and startup files, so you can see whether they cause the problem.

06Turn off add-ins one at a timeMedium

  1. In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
  2. Next to Manage, choose COM Add-ins and select Go.
  3. Clear all the check boxes and select OK, then close Excel and open it normally.
  4. If the problem is gone, turn the add-ins back on one at a time, restarting Excel each time, to find the one causing it.
  5. Do the same with Excel Add-ins in the Manage list. Leave the problem add-in off and check its maker's site for an update.

Why it helps: Add-ins run inside Excel, and a broken or outdated one can freeze or slow every workbook.

07If one workbook is slow, switch calculation to Manual to testMedium

  1. Open the slow workbook.
  2. Go to Formulas > Calculation Options and choose Manual.
  3. If Excel becomes responsive, heavy formulas are the cause. Press F9 (or select Calculate Now) when you need updated results.
  4. Note: the calculation setting applies to all open workbooks and is saved with the file. Switch back to Automatic when you are done, or formulas will show old results.

Why it helps: Large or complex formulas recalculate after every change, which can make Excel feel frozen.

08Look for heavy content in the workbookMedium

  1. Save a backup copy of the workbook first.
  2. Look for formulas that refer to whole columns (such as A:A); limit them to the rows you use.
  3. Check for hundreds or thousands of hidden or tiny objects or shapes, which often come from copying and pasting.
  4. Look for a very long list of cell styles or defined names, which build up when copying between workbooks.
  5. If another program created the file, test the same steps in a new workbook made in Excel; if that works, contact the other program's maker.

Why it helps: These are common reasons a single workbook makes Excel slow or unresponsive.

09Check Excel's startup foldersMedium

  1. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations and note the path of the XLStart folder.
  2. Go to File > Options > Advanced and, under General, note any folder in At startup, open all files in.
  3. Close Excel, move the files out of those folders to a safe place, and open Excel.
  4. If the problem is gone, move the files back one at a time, restarting Excel each time, to find the one causing it.

Why it helps: Files in these folders open every time Excel starts, so a bad one can freeze Excel at launch.

10Repair Microsoft 365Medium

  1. Close all Office apps.
  2. Right-click Start and select Installed apps.
  3. Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, select the three dots next to it and choose Modify.
  4. Choose Quick Repair and select Repair. This repairs the whole Office suite.
  5. If that doesn't help, run it again and choose Online Repair, which is more thorough but takes longer, then restart the PC.

Why it helps: Repair replaces damaged Office program files without touching your workbooks.

Check it's fixed

  • Excel opens normally (not in safe mode) and stays responsive while you work.
  • The workbook that froze opens, recalculates and saves in a reasonable time.
  • Calculation Options is back on Automatic and results update as expected.

When to get help

If Excel still freezes after these steps, or only on very large data sets, contact your IT team or Microsoft support. Very large workbooks may need more memory or a 64-bit version of Office; IT can check what your PC has.

Questions

Why is Excel so slow with one file?

Usually because of heavy formulas, whole-column references, many hidden objects or styles, or the file being opened from a slow network location. Test with calculation set to Manual and a local copy.

Will I lose my work if I end Excel in Task Manager?

Changes since your last save can be lost. Wait a few minutes first, since Excel may finish what it is doing.

Why did my formulas stop updating?

Calculation may be set to Manual, sometimes because you opened a workbook saved that way. Set Formulas > Calculation Options back to Automatic, or press F9 to recalculate.

Will repairing Office delete my spreadsheets?

No. Office repair only replaces program files. Your workbooks are not changed.

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