Microsoft excel is showing error

Question

Microsoft excel is showing error

Arunraj Pillai 0

we are sorry, but excel has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly. Excel will need to be closed as a result, how will i repair it

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hi, Arunraj Pillai

This error can also occur when Excel automatically loads a damaged startup file or corrupted user settings, even if the Office installation itself is working.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Close Excel. Press Windows key + R, enter %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART, and select OK. Move any files in that folder to your Desktop temporarily, then open Excel again. Excel automatically opens files stored there, so one damaged workbook or template can prevent it from starting.

In %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel, look for a file ending in .xlb. Rename it by adding .old to the end, then restart Excel. Excel will create a fresh toolbar settings file.

If the problem started recently, open Word, select File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. Also install pending Windows updates, since newer builds may include fixes for Excel crashes.

If Excel still fails, please mention your Windows and Office versions and whether Word opens normally.

Answer 2

Run an Online Repair of Microsoft 365 or Office from Windows Settings; it repairs the entire Office installation even when only Excel is failing.^1^

Repair Excel and Office

Close Excel, Word, Outlook, and any other Office applications, then:

Windows 11

Right-click Start and select Installed apps.
Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
Select the three dots (…) beside it, then Modify.
For a Click-to-Run installation, select Online Repair → Repair.
If the installer instead displays an MSI repair screen, select Repair → Continue.
Complete the prompts, restart Windows, and test Excel.

Windows 10

Right-click Start and select Apps and Features.
Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, then Modify.
Select Online Repair → Repair. For an MSI installation, select Repair → Continue.
Restart Windows after completion and open Excel.

Online Repair is more comprehensive than Quick Repair, although it takes longer and requires an internet connection. It may also require you to sign back into Office afterward.

If Excel still fails: test Safe Mode

Safe Mode bypasses Excel add-ins and several startup customizations, helping identify whether one of them is interfering with startup.^2^

Press Windows key + R.
Enter:
```
   excel /safe
```
Select OK.

If Excel opens successfully:

Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins from Manage, then select Go.
Clear every add-in checkbox and select OK.
Close Excel and reopen it normally.
If it works, enable the add-ins individually, restarting Excel each time, to identify the conflicting add-in.

If it still will not open

On Windows 10 or later, run Microsoft’s Excel check troubleshooter from the Get Help app. It is designed for Excel startup, crash, and hang problems and must be run on the affected computer.^3^

If Online Repair and the troubleshooter both fail, use the Microsoft 365 uninstall troubleshooter from the same Get Help page, restart Windows, and then reinstall Office. Ensure that the account used for reinstallation has the applicable Microsoft 365 subscription or Office licence.

References