Easy Ways To Fix Excel Not Responding or Slow

Arshmeet has been a tech tinkerer since childhood, but she realized her love for technology and writing about 5 years ago. Since then, she has been honing her skills and helping people figure out how things work, troubleshoot problems, choose the right app and products, and dig deep into the new and old concepts of technology. She is a self-professed Apple Enthusiast who loves debating what’s good and what’s not. It is her passion for finding techniques, hacks, apps, and products that make everyday life simpler.

Why Does Excel Keep Freezing or Lags on Windows

If the Excel app or file stops responding or lags, it can be attributed to various factors. Some common reasons can include,

Now that some common reasons behind Excel not responding or loading slowly are established, let’s find a solution for you.

Tip: If your Excel file is working fine, but youcan’t save changes on Windows, try out the attached troubleshooting guide.

Top Fixes if the Excel Freezes Every Time Used

If theExcel isn’t working properly, regardless of which file you access, try these steps.

Basic Fixes

Fix 1. Start Microsoft Excel in Safe Mode

Like when you run Windows in Safe Mode, running Excel in Safe Mode allows the application to run without add-ins. So if an installed plugin is causing the issue, you can catch the culprit.

There are multiple ways to open Excel in Safe Mode; the simplest one is to press the Hold theWindows Keyand press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box. Next, typeexcel -safeand pressEnteror click OK.

If Excel opens with the above steps, a plugin or other software is likely installed that is interfering with Excel. The solution for the same is in the next step.

Fix 2. Disable COM Add-ins To Stop Excel from Freezing

Regardless of whether your Excel worked in Safe Mode or not, temporarily turning off the add-ins can not just help you resolve the issue but can also speed up the overall process.

Step 1: OpenExcel. ClickFilefrom the top menu.

Step 2: Here, selectOptionsfrom the bottom-left corner.

Step 3: Go to theAdd-instab. Select the drop-down menu next toManage.

Step 4: SelectCOM Add-inand thenGo.

Step 5:Uncheckall the Add-in. ClickOKwhen done.

Step 6: For extra measure, go through the list in the drop-down and disable all Excel Add-ins, Actions, and XML Expansion Pack.

Close and relaunch the Excel normally to see if disabling items in those selections do the trick. If this trick worked for you, happy Excelling. However, you can enable these add-ins one by one later to find the exact add-in or action that was disturbing your Excel experience.

Fix 3. Repair Microsoft Excel

Microsoft knows how these small issues might affect your experience, thus, it houses a handy self-repair tool. It can fix many issues, from thetoolbar not workingto can’t type in Excel, including the issue at hand.

Step 1: Right-click on theStart iconand selectInstalled apps.

Step 2: Scroll down and findMicrosoft Officeon the list. Click thethree-dot iconnext to it.

Step 3: SelectModify/AdvancedOptions.

Step 4: Here, selectRepairorReset.

Once the repair or reset is complete. Try to launch Excel and see if you have a freezing problem. If the problem persists, hop on to the next solution.

The final option to stop Excel from freezing or acting slow is tocontact the Microsoft teamand ask their experts for help.

Excel Not Responding or Slowing for Only One Spreadsheet

Naturally, if the problem only occurs when you open a certain spreadsheet, there is an issue with the file. But don’t worry, just give these steps a try.

Fix 1. Clear Conditional Formatting

While conditional formatting can make a spreadsheet visually appealing, it can also slow it down or freeze. However, clearing all formatting may affect the data in your spreadsheet, so it’s wiser to save a copy of the file and then clear the formatting.

To do so, open theExcel spreadsheet→ ClickFile→Save asand make a new copy. Next, open the document copy and go toHome→Conditional Formatting→Clear Rules→Clear Rules From Entire Sheet.

If you no longer experience freezing or slowness problems in the file, you must narrow down which section is causing the problem and reapply the conditional formatting.

Sometimes an Excel file might malfunction because of a complex or faulty formula or a bad/broken external link. So, it’s wiser to check the formulas (one by one) and links to determine the culprit and remove or repair it accordingly.

Fix 3. Clear Objects or Shapes

If you’ve used objects or shapes in your Excel, whether for appearances or genuine use, try removing them all or one by one to avoid Excel slowing down or not responding.

Step 1: HoldCtrl + Gto bring up the Go To box. Here, select theSpecialbutton.

Step 3: Next, checkObjectsand thenOKto search for all objects in Excel.

Step 4: Select theobjectanddeleteit.

If the problem persists, convert Excel to Google Sheets temporarily and complete your work.

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Last updated on 26 July, 2024

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