A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.
Start Excel in Safe Mode with excel /safe; if it opens, disable its add-ins, and if it does not open, repair the Microsoft 365 installation.
1. Test Excel in Safe Mode
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
excel /safe - Select OK.
The Excel title bar should display Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode). Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and several startup customizations that can stop Excel from opening normally.^1^
If Excel opens in Safe Mode:
- Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
- At the bottom, select COM Add-ins from Manage, then select Go.
- Clear all checkboxes and select OK.
- Close Excel and start it normally.
- If Excel now works, re-enable add-ins one at a time, restarting Excel after each one, until the faulty add-in is identified.^1^
Also repeat this process for Excel Add-ins if that option appears in the Manage list.
2. If Safe Mode fails, repair Microsoft 365
Close every Office application before starting. Repair applies to the entire Office suite, even when only Excel is affected.^2^
Windows 11
- Right-click Start → Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
- Select the three dots → Modify.
- For a Click-to-Run installation, select Online Repair → Repair.
- Complete the prompts and restart Windows.
Windows 10
- Right-click Start → Apps and Features.
- Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office → Modify.
- Select Online Repair → Repair.
- Complete the repair and restart Windows.
Online Repair is more complete than Quick Repair. If the installer instead displays an MSI-based repair window, select Repair → Continue.^2^
3. If Excel remains blocked
If another Office application opens, use File → Account → Update Options → Update Now to install Office updates. If repair and updates do not resolve the failure, uninstall and reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office. Microsoft recommends reinstalling when the application cannot start even in Safe Mode and repair does not correct it.^3^
Before uninstalling, ensure that the Microsoft account and installation details used for the original Office installation are available. Uninstalling removes the Office applications, so save and close any open documents first.
References