excel sheet not working

Neeraj sarda 0 Reputation points
2026-09-15T10:45:47.7266667+00:00

excel sheet no working when opening it is showing error prompt and asking whether to repair but when clicked not responding

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | Other | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-15T10:46:02.3466667+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Start Excel in Safe Mode
      • Press Windows + R.
      • Type excel /safe and select OK.
      • If Excel opens, the problem is likely caused by an add-in or startup file.
    2. Disable COM add-ins
      • In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
      • Select COM Add-ins and click Go.
      • Clear all check boxes, then click OK.
      • Close Excel and open it normally.
      • If it works, re-enable add-ins one at a time to find the one causing the error.
    3. Check Excel startup folders
      • Excel can automatically open files from the XLStart folder or an alternate startup folder.
      • A bad file there can cause Excel to hang when opening.
      • Start Excel without those startup files and test again.
    4. Install the latest Office and Windows updates
      • Out-of-date files can cause Excel to freeze or stop responding.
      • Also check whether Excel is still busy with another process before clicking repair again.
    5. Repair Microsoft 365
      • Close all Office apps.
      • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Find Microsoft 365 or Office.
      • Select Modify.
      • Run Quick Repair first.
      • If the issue continues, run Online Repair.
      • Restart the PC after the repair finishes.
    6. Check antivirus software
      • Make sure antivirus definitions are up to date.
      • If the antivirus has Excel integration or an Excel add-in, it can cause performance or startup problems.
      • Changing antivirus settings can reduce protection, so use caution.
    7. Test the workbook locally
      • If the file is stored on a network location, SharePoint, web folder, or redirected folder, save a copy locally and open that copy.
      • This helps determine whether the issue is with the file or where it is stored.
    8. If Excel still hangs
      • Try a selective startup (clean boot) to check whether another background app or service is conflicting with Excel.
      • If the problem continues after all steps, contact Microsoft Support for guided troubleshooting.

    Important: If registry-based add-in troubleshooting is needed later, back up the registry first because incorrect changes can cause serious problems.


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  2. DaveM121 932.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-15T11:22:46.22+00:00

    Is this problem only occurring with one Excel file, or is the error occurring with all excel files?

    1

    If this problem is occurring with all Excel files.

    Before performing this process, please log into your Microsoft account on this link (https://account.microsoft.com/services/) and check to ensure your Office licence or Microsoft 365 subscription is listed correctly on your account.

    Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Start Menu)

    Go to Apps - Installed Apps, then scroll down to find Microsoft Office

    Select that and choose Modify - Online Repair

    That should fix any issues with your Office Installation.

    2

    If this problem is only occurring with one Excel file, log into your OneDrive in a web browser (https://onedrive.live.com/) to check if you have a working version of the file that you can download from OneDrive.

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