Microsoft excel not responding and crashes when opening a workbook

Deasy Kania R C 0 Reputation points
2026-09-11T09:36:48.0333333+00:00

i am using microsoft office 2024 LTSC pro, when opening a workbook the app always crash and close by itself, i was check windows even viewer and found an error like this :

Faulting application name: EXCEL.EXE, version: 16.0.17932.20976, time stamp: 0x6a9f6db7

Faulting module name: mso20win32client.dll, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x6a9f6789

Exception code: 0x0281d34d

Fault offset: 0x000000000031785d

Faulting process id: 0x6B0C

Faulting application start time: 0x1DD41CD8FF39FB3

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE

Faulting module path: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Office16\mso20win32client.dll

Report Id:

Faulting package full name:

Faulting package-relative application ID:

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-11T09:37:04.3566667+00:00

    Use this troubleshooting path in order:

    1. Start Excel in Safe Mode
      • Press Win + R
      • Type excel /safe
      • Press Enter
      • Confirm the title bar shows Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode)
    2. If Excel opens in Safe Mode, disable add-ins
      • In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-Ins
      • In Manage, select the Excel add-in type if available, otherwise select COM Add-ins
      • Select Go
      • Clear one add-in at a time, then select OK
      • Restart Excel normally after each change
      • If Excel starts normally after disabling one add-in, that add-in is the cause. Check the add-in vendor for an updated version, or leave it disabled/remove it.
      • Older add-ins specifically called out as problematic include Abbyy FineReader, PowerWord, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
    3. If Excel does not start in Safe Mode
      • The issue is less likely to be caused by add-ins.
      • Repair Office, or uninstall and reinstall it.
    4. If repair was already tried and Excel still crashes when opening a workbook
      • Continue with Safe Mode troubleshooting if not already done.
      • Check whether antivirus software is up to date or conflicting with Excel.
      • Test whether the issue is related to printer or video drivers. Excel checks the default printer and video drivers at startup, and a specific printer or video driver can contribute to hangs or crashes.
    5. If the crash happens only when opening workbooks and not when Excel is idle
      • This still fits common workbook startup conflict patterns such as add-ins loading with Excel. Safe Mode is the fastest way to isolate that.

    The Event Viewer details provided do not match a documented known issue in the available material for mso20win32client.dll, so the supported next step is standard Excel crash isolation: Safe Mode first, then add-ins, then Office repair, then antivirus/printer/video-driver checks.

    If the problem continues after those steps, contact Microsoft Support for guided troubleshooting.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Helen Luu 2,785 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-11T09:54:36.1033333+00:00

    Hi,

    As the forum’s AI recommended, please test Excel in Safe Mode. Close Excel, press Win + R, type excel /safe, and press Enter. Then use File > Open within that window to open the affected workbook and check whether Excel still crashes.

    Safe Mode bypasses several settings, startup files, and add-ins. If the workbook opens successfully there, further testing is needed to identify which component is involved; this result alone does not confirm an add-in is responsible. Microsoft explains this in its Excel troubleshooting guidance.

    The Event Viewer entry names mso20win32client.dll as the faulting module, but the details provided are not enough to determine the root cause.

    To narrow this down, please check:

    1. One workbook or multiple files? Launch Excel normally and try creating, saving, and reopening a new blank workbook.
    2. Where is the affected file stored? If it is on a network drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint, test a copy in a local folder outside any synced location. Keep the original file unchanged.
    3. When did the crashes begin? Did the issue start immediately after an Office update, or was it already happening before?

    Microsoft’s Office LTSC 2024 update history lists build 17932.20976 as the September 8, 2026 release. That confirms the build’s release date, but does not establish that the update caused this crash.

    Please share the Safe Mode result and the results of the checks above, along with any troubleshooting you have already completed.

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