How to Fix the Microsoft Excel Not Responding Error in Windows

Sometimes, when you try to open an Excel file may see the Microsoft Excel is not responding error message on the screen. This error can also occur while making changes to a worksheet or saving it. This error mainly occurs due to software conflicts, large Excel file size, or Excel file corruption.

However, there are other reasons as well:

Corrupted MS Excel/MS Office program files
Faulty or conflicting third-party add-ins
Issues with Excel files in the XLStart folder
Complex Excel workbooks with a large number of formulas, references, or embedded objects
Outdated Microsoft Office
Excel files saved in an incompatible format
MS Excel conflicts with other programs or applications
Network issues with a shared Excel file
MS Excel running in the background or is in use by another program

Methods to Fix the Microsoft Excel is Not Responding Error

Installing MS Excel or MS Office updates can help you fix underlying issues that could be generating the Microsoft Excel not responding error. But if you are getting the error message even after installing the updates, follow the detailed methods below.

Method 1: Launch MS Excel in Safe Mode

Faulty or incompatible add-ins may cause Excel to stop responding. Running Excel in Safe Mode disables all third-party add-ins and uses only the necessary services. Doing this can help you circle out the problematic add-in/s.

Here are the steps to launch MS Excel in safe mode:

Press Windows + R to open Run.
Type excel.exe /safe and press Enter.
If Excel launches without any errors in Safe Mode, follow the steps below to disable the add-ins.
- Go to File > Options
- In the Excel Options window, click on Add-ins in the left panel.
- Go to the Manage section and use the dropdown menu to select COM Add-ins. Click Go.
- Uncheck all add-ins and click OK.
Restart MS Excel in normal mode.

Doing this should help you fix the problem. Now, follow the above steps the above steps again to enable the add-ins one by one. This will help you figure out the problematic add-in. If the issue persists, repeat the process for Excel Add-ins instead of COM Add-ins.

Method 2: Empty the XLStart Folder

The XLStart folder allows you to keep important Excel files that you would require to launch immediately after launching MS Excel. But sometimes, the files may cause Excel to freeze or hang due to problematic workbooks in the XLStart folder. You can resolve this issue by removing files from it. Here is what to do:

Launch MS Excel in Safe Mode.
Go to File > Options.
Select Trust Center in the Excel Options window.
Click on Trust Center Settings. It will open the Trust Center window.
Click on Trusted Locations in the left pane. Note the path of the XLStart folder.
Navigate to this folder, move all files to another location, and restart Excel in normal mode.

Method 3: Repair Microsoft Office

Corrupt or missing MS Office program files can result in MS Excel or other associated applications freezing or becoming unresponsive. Repairing the installation may fix the issue. Here are the steps to repair Microsoft Office:

Close all Office applications.
Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
Select Microsoft Office, then click Change.
You will see a UAC prompt. Click on Yes to proceed.
Choose Repair and click Continue.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
After the repair is complete, reopen Excel.

Method 4: Check the Excel File Format

Sometimes, you get the Microsoft Excel not responding error message when you try to open a file with an incompatible file format. Here is what you can address file format issues:

Launch MS Excel and click File > Save As.
Select a format compatible with your Excel version, such as .xlsx or .xls.
Save the file and reopen it.

Method 5: Repair the MS Excel File

In some cases, an Excel file fails to respond because of file corruption. This causes that file to freeze MS Excel and show the Microsoft Excel not responding error message. To repair the problematic file, use Excel’s built-in Open and Repair tool.

Steps to Repair a corrupted Excel file using Open and Repair utility:

Launch MS Excel and click on File > Open.
Click on Browse to locate the problematic file.
In the Open dialog box, select the problematic file, click the arrow next to Open, and choose Open and Repair.
Click Repair to recover as much data as possible.

Repair Corrupt Excel File Using an Advance Excel Repair Software

When the above solutions fail to repair a severely corrupted file and resolve freezing issues, you can rely on Stellar Repair for Excel. It is a robust alternative that helps you repair severely corrupted Excel files, regardless of their size. You can use it to recover various components, including formulas, charts, images, and embedded objects.

The best part of this software is that it allows you to repair multiple Excel files simultaneously. The software supports all MS Excel versions and Windows OS, including the latest Windows 11.

Follow the steps below to use Stellar Repair for Excel to repair the corrupt Excel file:

Download Stellar Repair for Excel from its official website.
Install it and launch it.
The Select File window will open.
Click on Browse to select the problematic Excel file.
Once selected, click on Repair to start the process.
The software will scan the file and display all of its contents. You can preview it to check the file.
Once you are satisfied with the results, click on Save File to save the repaired file.

Preventive Tips to Avoid Excel Errors

Apart from solutions to fix the Microsoft Excel not responding error, here are a few tips that can help you avoid tricky situations:

Install Microsoft Office updates to avoid bugs and issues
Avoid installing add-ins from untrusted sources
Break large files into smaller ones to reduce complexity
Save files in compatible formats such as xls, xlsx, etc.
Backup important Excel workbooks on different drives and cloud to avoid data loss

Conclusion

The Microsoft Excel is not responding error can prevent users from working smoothly. However, with the solutions provided above, it can easily be resolved. But, if the error is a result of file corruption, you can use Stellar Repair for Excel to restore your data without compromising file integrity. By following these steps and preventive tips, you can resolve the issue and ensure smoother Excel operations.