Microsoft Excel is one of the best applications used for storing data in table forms, it can store almost all kinds of information, and it has many features like computation capabilities, which help data analysts to easily do simple calculations.
Just like any other program users of Microsoft excel also face some issues sometimes while working or launching it. The excel stops responding or freezes while working or launching and shows an error message like ‘Excel is not responding’.
In this article, we have discussed the causes of the excel not responding issue and seven fixes to help you resolve the issue.
What are the causes of excel not responding error?
Here are a few possible reasons that might be causing the excel not responding error:
- Some other programs might be interfering with excel.
- Faulty add-ins
- Windows or Microsoft Office are not updated.
- Corrupted Microsoft Office files.
Also read: How to move columns in Excel?
How to fix the excel not responding issue?
Here are seven fixes to help you resolve the excel not responding issue:
Open Microsoft Excel in safe mode
If excel freezes or gives an error like excel is not responding then it is because there are a few programs that are interfering with the proper functioning of excel. You can open excel in safe mode as it bypasses the basic functionality and settings and it will bypass any programs that might be interfering with excel.
Click here to know how to open excel in safe mode
Check and disable faulty add-ins
Add-ins can be really helpful to make your work easier on excel but sometimes they can cause problems too. To check and disable faulty add-ins follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open excel and click on the File tab at the top.
Step 2: Click on More… and then click on Options to pen excel options.
Step 3: In the excel options window, click on the Add-ins option in the left side menu and then in the Add-ins options click on Manage options at the bottom.
Step 4: Select Excel Add-ins or COM Add-ins and then click on the Go… button.
Step 5: In the Add-ins box, uncheck all the add-ins to disable them. Enable one add-in at a time and check the performance of Excel, if excel starts freezing after you enabled the add-in that means that is a faulty add-in, you can either remove it or just uncheck the adding to disable it again.
Also read: What is DBXSVC? Can you remove it?
Get the latest Windows updates
Excel might not be responding because Microsoft Windows is not updated, so you can download the latest updates of the windows and if there are any latest updates for Microsoft Office it will be automatically downloaded with windows updates.
Click here to know how to download latest updates of Windows.
Disable Anti-virus
Sometimes the anti-virus programs installed in your laptop detects files as unsafe and stop them from running, and it might be possible that the anti-virus on your PC is stopping excel. So disable the anti-virus and check whether excel is running properly or not. If it still hangs or freezes then follow the next method.
Click here to know how to disable Anti-virus.
Change the default printer
Excel usually communicates with the printer’s settings to find the supported margins by the printer when you open an excel sheet, so changing the default printer might help you resolve the excel not responding issue. To change the default printer follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the control and click on the View devices and printers option under Hardware and Sound.
Step 2: Under Printers, Right-click on the Microsoft XPS Document Writer and in the drop-down menu click on the Set as default printer option. You can select any non-default printer to set a default printer.
Also read: How to fix #spill error in Excel?
Repair Microsoft Office
If there is any problem with Microsoft Office, then repairing it will fix it. To know how to repair Microsoft Office, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Control Panel and then under programs, click on Uninstall programs option, which will directly take you to the programs and features.
Step 2: Find Microsoft Office and click on it; then click on the Change option available above all the programs.
Step 3: A prompt message will appear, click on Yes and then in the next box select either Quick Repair or Online Repair option and then click on the Repair button.
Reinstall Microsoft Office
If the error is still coming even after repairing the Microsoft Office, then you must reinstall the Microsoft Office. To uninstall Microsoft Office, follow the same steps as we did when repairing the program; just click on Uninstall option instead of the Change option.
Also read: How to add error bars in Excel?
