cant open the excel app

Follow these steps in order and test Excel after each step:

1. Start Excel in Safe Mode
   1. Select the Search icon on Windows and type run, then open the Run app.
   2. In the Run box, type: excel /safe
   3. Press Enter.
   4. If Excel opens in Safe Mode (title bar shows “Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode)”), the issue is likely caused by an add-in.
2. Disable add-ins (if Excel opens in Safe Mode)
   1. With Excel still in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
   2. In the Manage box at the bottom, choose Excel Add-ins (or COM Add-ins) and select Go.
   3. Clear the check box for one add-in and select OK.
   4. Close Excel and start it normally (without /safe).
   5. If Excel works, the last add-in disabled is problematic. Leave it off. If not, repeat the steps and disable add-ins one by one until Excel starts correctly.
3. Repair Microsoft 365/Office If Excel will not start even in Safe Mode, or disabling add-ins does not help, repair Office:
   1. Close all Office apps.
   2. Open Control Panel.
   3. Go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
   4. Select Microsoft 365 (or Office) and choose Change.
   5. Select Online Repair > Repair and let the process complete.
   6. Restart the computer and try opening Excel again.

If Excel still cannot open after Online Repair, a full uninstall and reinstall of Office may be required.

References:

• I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
• "An error occurred when sending commands to the program" in Excel
• Excel opens to a blank screen
• When I open an excel file it shows - We're sorry, but excel has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly, Excel will need to be closed as a result. would you like us to repair now? then shows the option "repair now","help","close" - Microsoft Q&A
• How can I get office 365 to work? - Microsoft Q&A