Excel Spreadsheets Keep Refreshing and Won’t Open

Jerry Mercado 0 Reputation points
2026-09-12T14:34:43.0766667+00:00

My Excel spreadsheets keep refreshing on their own, and I’m unable to access them. I’ve tried different browsers and computers, but nothing has worked. I’ve also tried calling customer support, but I keep getting redirected to a chat that leads nowhere.

Has anyone else experienced this? It’s been happening for two weeks, and I don’t know what else to do.

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

    2026-09-12T14:34:55.34+00:00

    Yes. Similar issues have been reported with Excel for the web where a spreadsheet stops loading across browsers and shows repeated refresh or webpage errors.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. If the file is locked, make sure it is closed on all devices.
      • If the file was left open elsewhere or did not close properly, Excel can block access.
      • Wait a few minutes and try again so the server can release the lock.
    2. If the file is shared, check whether another person has it open.
      • Open it as read-only if available.
      • If needed, ask the other user to close it, check it in, or grant edit access.
      • If only view access is available, use Viewing > Request more access.
    3. If the problem is with Excel for the web across multiple browsers, reset the network on the affected Windows PC.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network Reset > Reset now.
      • This is a system-level change and will remove and reinstall network adapters, so saved network settings may need to be re-entered.
    4. If desktop Excel opens to a blank screen, try these checks:
      • In Excel, go to View > Unhide and see whether the workbook was saved with hidden sheets.
      • Minimize Excel, then restore it from the taskbar to refresh the window.
      • Reset the file association for the workbook type in Windows by right-clicking the file > Properties > Change under Opens with, then select the correct app and enable Always use this app.
    5. Repair Microsoft 365.
      • An Online Repair is recommended for blank-screen and not-responding Excel issues.
      • If repair does not help, continue to support options in the support article.
    6. Install the latest Microsoft 365 and Windows updates.
      • Out-of-date files can cause Excel hangs, freezes, and loading problems.
    7. If Excel desktop is hanging, test in Safe Mode.
      • Safe Mode bypasses Excel add-ins and custom startup settings, which can interfere with opening workbooks.
    8. If the issue continues, use guided troubleshooting or Microsoft Support.
      • The support content specifically recommends guided support for Office problems and contacting Microsoft Support if the issue remains after the listed steps.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Thomas4-N 21,565 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-13T07:27:03.71+00:00

    Hello Jerry Mercado,

    Since you've already tested multiple browsers and multiple computers, this doesn't immediately sound like a typical browser or local PC issue.

    Could you clarify a few things?

    • Are all Excel files affected, or only specific files?
    • Are the files stored in OneDrive/SharePoint or on a local drive?
    • Does the problem occur in Excel desktop, Excel for the web, or both?
    • When you say the files keep refreshing, do you see a loading loop, an error message, or does the page simply reload repeatedly?

    A screenshot of the refresh behavior may also help.

    The reason I'm asking is that if the same issue occurs across different devices and browsers, it could point to a file-specific, account-specific, or cloud-storage issue rather than a problem with the local installation of Excel.

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