When starting Excel, last a few seconds then docto disappear

Julian Martinez 0 Reputation points
2026-10-02T18:55:41.9566667+00:00
  1. Start a new Excel document; Excel opens a new doc for you; then it disappears in a few seconds (en empty doc is generated and stored in the default folder)
  2. Open a previous Excel document; Excel opens the already existing doc for you to edit; then it disappears in a few seconds (original doc remains as it was, no modifications)

. In both cases; when you call Excel for starting; first thing: Excel prompt whether you want start in safety mode; When you answer "No" Happens Bullet 1. When you answer "Yes" Happens Bullet 2.

It´s not possible work in any doc, because Excel exit before you can type anything.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows

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  1. Chris-D 1,690 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-02T19:14:02.0766667+00:00

    Hi Julian,

    Thank you for sharing the details of your situation.

    Based on your description, Excel appears to be crashing shortly after startup, regardless of whether you create a new workbook or open an existing one. Since the issue also occurs when Excel attempts to start in Safe Mode, here are some steps you can try:

    1. Close all Office applications.
    2. Press Windows + R, enter the following command, and select OK: excel /safe
    3. If Excel remains open in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins, click Go, disable all add-ins, and then restart Excel normally.
    4. If Excel still closes, repair Office:
    • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
    • Locate Microsoft 365 or Office.
    • Select the three-dot menu, choose Modify, and run Quick Repair.
    • If Quick Repair does not resolve the issue, run Online Repair.
    1. Install any remaining Windows and Office updates, and then restart the device.

    You can also temporarily move files out of the following folders, as a corrupted startup file may cause Excel to close:

    • %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART
    • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART

    Please do not delete the files permanently. Move them to another folder for testing.

    If the issue persists, let me know:

    • Whether Word and PowerPoint open normally
    • Whether Excel displays an error message or error code before closing
    • Your Office version, which you can check under Settings > Apps > Installed apps
    • Whether the issue began after a Windows or Office update

    Please feel free to share the information in the comment below. Once I have it, I'll be better positioned to guide you through the next steps. 

    I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it.

    Note: Follow the steps in the forum documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive email notifications related to this topic.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-02T18:55:57.1933333+00:00

    Use this isolation path:

    1. Start Excel in safe mode.
      • Hold down CTRL while starting Excel and select Yes at the safe mode prompt, or use Win + R and run excel.exe /safe.
      • Safe mode bypasses add-ins, startup folders, toolbar customizations, and most COM add-ins.
    2. Check whether Excel is opening files automatically from startup folders.
      • In Excel, go to File > Options > Advanced > General.
      • Clear At startup, open all files in: if it contains a folder path.
      • Then check the XLSTART folders and move any files out of them temporarily:
        • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\rootxx\XLSTART for 32-bit Office 365/Office 2019
        • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\rootxx\XLSTART for 64-bit Office 365/Office 2019
        • %appdata%\Microsoft\excel\XLSTART
        • C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\excel\XLSTART
      • Restart Excel and test again.
    3. If safe mode works better than normal mode, isolate add-ins.
      • Disable COM add-ins and Excel add-ins, then restart Excel normally.
      • If Excel works after that, re-enable add-ins one at a time until the failing add-in is identified.
    4. If Excel still closes or hangs, use the Excel safe mode troubleshooter.
      • Important: this can modify the registry and move files from startup folders. Back up the registry and startup-folder files first.
      • The troubleshooter can disable add-ins, move startup files, and rename custom toolbar files.
    5. If Excel opens to a blank screen before disappearing, run an Online Repair of Office.
      • If repair does not resolve it, use the Contact us option from the support article.
    6. If the problem happens when opening or saving files and Excel becomes unresponsive, update Office.
      • A known issue that caused unexpected file access prompts and hangs was fixed in version 16.34. Update to 16.34 or newer.

    A temporary workaround while testing is to start Excel with excel.exe /automation, which disables automatically opened files and auto-run macros.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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