A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.
Start Excel in Safe Mode first; if it opens, disable conflicting add-ins, and if it still does not open, run Microsoft 365 Online Repair.
1. Try Excel in Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts Excel without most add-ins and customized startup settings.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
excel /safe - Select OK.
If Excel opens, continue with the add-in steps below. If it does not open, skip to Online Repair. Microsoft recommends this safe-mode decision path for startup, hanging, and crashing problems.^1^
2. If Safe Mode works, disable add-ins
- In Excel, select File → Options → Add-ins.
- At the bottom, set Manage to COM Add-ins.
- Select Go.
- Clear every checkbox and select OK.
- Close Excel and open it normally.
If Excel now opens, enable the add-ins again one at a time, restarting Excel after each one. The add-in enabled immediately before the problem returns is the likely conflict.^1^
3. If Excel will not open in Safe Mode, repair Office
Save and close any other Office applications first. Repair affects the complete Office suite, not only Excel.
Windows 11
- Right-click Start → Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
- Select the three dots → Modify.
- Choose Online Repair → Repair.
- Complete the prompts, restart the computer if requested, and test Excel.
Windows 10
- Right-click Start → Apps and Features.
- Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office → Modify.
- Choose Online Repair → Repair.
- Complete the prompts and test Excel.
For an MSI-based Office installation, choose Repair → Continue instead. Online Repair is the more complete Click-to-Run repair option.^2^
4. If repair does not resolve it
On Windows 10 or later, run Microsoft’s Excel check troubleshooter:
- Open the Get Help app.
- Search for an Excel startup, hang, or crash problem.
- Run the Excel check troubleshooter and follow its prompts.
It must run on the same Windows PC where Excel is installed.^3^
If only one workbook fails while Excel itself opens, the problem is different from an application startup failure. Note whether:
- Excel opens without selecting that workbook.
- A blank screen appears.
- An error message or code appears.
- Nothing happens at all.
For a blank screen when opening a workbook, Microsoft also recommends Online Repair; if that fails, use the Contact us option on its support page.^4^
References