excel not open

Try these steps in order:

1. Start Excel in Safe Mode.
   • Press Windows + R.
   • Type excel /safe and press Enter.
   • If Excel opens in Safe Mode, the problem is likely caused by an add-in.
2. Disable add-ins if Safe Mode works.
   • In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
   • At the bottom, in Manage, select COM Add-ins and choose Go.
   • Clear one add-in, select OK, then restart Excel normally.
   • Repeat one at a time until the problem stops.
   • If needed, repeat the same process for Excel Add-Ins.
3. Repair Office.
   • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   • Find Microsoft 365 or Office.
   • Select Modify.
   • Run Quick Repair first.
   • If Excel still does not open, run Online Repair.
   • Note: Online Repair fully reinstalls Office and can take 15–30 minutes.
4. Check for antivirus conflicts.
   • Make sure antivirus software is fully updated.
   • If antivirus includes Excel integration or Excel add-ins, that can cause performance or startup problems.
   • Warning: changing antivirus settings can reduce protection. Use caution.
5. If Excel opens to a blank screen when opening a workbook:
   • In Excel, go to View > Unhide and check for hidden sheets.
   • Try minimizing and maximizing the Excel window.
   • If needed, reset the file association for the workbook type in File Properties > Opens with > Change.
6. If the issue started when opening or saving files and Excel hangs on a Grant Access prompt:
   • Update Office to version 16.34 or later.

If Safe Mode does not open Excel, repair Office first.

• I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
• Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel
• Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working
• Excel prompts you to grant access to files and then hangs or shows a warning that it cannot open the .xlsx file because the format or extension is not valid
• 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