What to Do When Excel is Not Responding? Best Techniques
Overview: Is your Excel not responding, hanging, freezing, or stopping working, and you’re not sure how to fix it? If that sounds familiar, you’re on the right page. This write-up explains why Excel keeps freezing and not responding, and how to fix it by starting Excel in safe mode, disabling add-ins, updating MS Excel, repairing Excel from the Control Panel, and other manual techniques. Also, you can also use automated solutions to handle corrupt or large Excel files easily.
MS Excel is widely used by organizations to store and manage financial data. Excel is used for several operations, such as the calculation of profit/loss, averages, etc. It allows users to manage data efficiently. However, Excel not responding and freezing issues can disrupt productivity, which is a frustrating, stressful situation.
If you are facing the same issue, then you are not alone. Excel can stop responding due to various reasons, which are explained in the upcoming sections. Here you will get complete information with a step-by-step process to fix the Excel not responding and freezing issue.
Why Does Excel Not Responding Hang, Freeze, or Crash?
Before jumping into the fixes, it is important to understand why Excel keeps freezing and crashing while opening the file. These are the common causes:
- Large File Size: Multiple sheets, heavy formulas, or many objects make your file larger and can interrupt Excel file performance.
- Corrupted Excel File: Sometimes improper saving, sudden system shutdown, or virus infection can make your file corrupt, which becomes a reason for excel not responding.
- Add-ins or Plugins: Also, third-party add-ins can affect the Excel performance. Some add-ins consume high memory or create compatibility issues.
- Outdated Excel Version: Using an older version of Excel is another reason for Excel not responding, hanging, freezing, or stopping work.
- System Limitations: If your system has low RAM or CPU, then it will affect the Excel performance. It’s a major issue in older computers or systems.
What to Do When Excel is Not Responding?
Here we have provided a list of 9 proven techniques to fix the Excel stop responding and freezing issue using:
- Wait for Process Finish
- Start Excel in Safe Mode
- Disable Add-Ins
- Update MS Excel Application
- Repair Excel from the Control Panel
- Reduce Workbook Size
- Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
- Clear Conditional Formatting & Unnecessary Formulas
- Check for File Corruption
Method 1: Wait for Excel to Finish Processing
This is the basic and simple technique to resolve the “Excel not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working” issue. If your Excel is working with a large dataset, then it may freeze while processing data. You need to wait for a few minutes for the process to complete. And if Excel resumes, then save your work immediately.
Method 2: Open Excel in Safe Mode
You can try to open your Excel application in Safe Mode, because it will disable all the add-ins and start Excel with default settings to resolve the error:
- Go to the “Start” menu and select the “Run” option.
- Or else, you can also press the “Windows + R” key.
- Then, enter “Excel.exe/safe” in the command prompt to run MS Excel in safe mode.
- Finally, you can try to open your Excel file to fix the Excel not responding error.
Method 3: Try to Disable Add-Ins
- Open your Excel workbook.
- Head to the “File” >> “Options” >> “Add-Ins” options.
- Choose the “COM Add-ins” and choose the “Go” icon.
- Finally, uncheck all the add-ins and restart your Excel.
Method 4: Fix Excel Not Responding by Updating Excel Application
Try updating your Microsoft Excel; it can improve the performance:
- Launch your Excel.
- Head to the “File” >> “Account in Excel” application.
- Hit on the “Update Options” > “Update Now” options.
Method 5: Excel Not Responding Fix: Reducing Workbook Size
The Excel not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working issue appears mainly because of large data files. And deleting data or compressing an Excel file size is not a practical solution in the long run. So, in case your file contains crucial information, and you don’t want to delete any row or column, then use the SysTools Excel Splitter Tool.
It helps you to break Excel file into multiple files by Row and Sheet without errors and limitations. It can handle any size of data files in bulk. Download the free version to manage your large files smoothly.
Method 6: Repair Excel from the Control Panel
If Excel files are corrupted or the application is unstable, repairing Office can help:
- Go to the “Control Panel” >> “Programs” >> “Programs and Features”.
- Choose the “Microsoft Office”.
- Hit on the “Change” >> “Repair” options.
Method 7: Clear Conditional Formatting & Unnecessary Formulas
Large conditional formatting rules or volatile formulas like NOW(), TODAY(), INDIRECT() can make Excel not responding hangs freezes or stop working. So, remove unnecessary rules and simple formulas to improve speed.
Method 8: Excel Not Responding by Disabling Hardware Graphics Acceleration
Sometimes, graphics settings can cause excel stop responding. Here are the steps to fix it:
- Head to the “File” >> “Options” >> “Advanced” options in Excel.
- Scroll to “Display”.
- Next, check the “Disable hardware graphics acceleration.”
Method 9: Solution for Corrupted Excel Files
Control Panel can repair the Excel application, not individual workbooks. So, you use the SysTools Excel Recovery Tool to repair the file and recover data without losing information. If you can’t open large Excel file due to corruption, then manual techniques won’t work. This is the best and highly recommended solution by experts to fix the Excel not responding issue due to corruption.
With the help of this application, users can recover a corrupt file in no time. In addition, it supports all versions of Microsoft Excel. Download the software for free to understand the working steps and features:
Final Tips to Fix the Excel Not Responding Issue
- To avoid Excel from freezing and not responding in the future:
- Avoid containing huge data in a single workbook.
- You can save files into separate, smaller parts using a suggested automated solution.
- Try to update your Excel application version regularly.
- Avoid using heavy add-ins, and clean your workbook frequently.
Conclusion
Excel not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working is a common but solvable issue. It happens due to large file size, corruption, or add-in conflicts, but don’t worry right approach can fix this issue.
If you find your file larger, then use the suggested solution to divide the file into smaller chunks for better management. And if your file is corrupted, then the mentioned recovery tool can recover your valuable data without hassle. By following these proven steps, you can fix the issue effectively and keep your work running smoothly.