Fix error and repair now

Linda Breeden 0 Reputation points
2026-10-01T22:27:45+00:00

When I open my excel spreadsheet a message comes up saying excel has run into an error and has to close. Would you like us to repair it now? I click on repair now and can work in the spreadsheet, but the message still comes up every time I open excel. This is new and I have never seen this before. How can I fix this? Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-01T22:28:00.5433333+00:00

    The most likely causes are a faulty Excel add-in or a corrupted Office installation. Since the Repair Now prompt keeps returning, use this order:

    1. Start Excel in Safe Mode.
      • Press Windows + R.
      • Type excel /safe and press Enter.
      • Confirm Safe Mode by checking the title bar for Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode).
    2. If Excel opens in Safe Mode, disable add-ins.
      • In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
      • In the Manage list, select Excel Add-ins and click Go. If that option is not available, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
      • Clear one add-in, click OK, then restart Excel normally.
      • Repeat until the error stops.
      • Older add-ins specifically called out as problematic include Abbyy FineReader, PowerWord, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
    3. If Excel does not open in Safe Mode, repair Office.
      • On Windows, right-click Start and select Installed apps or Apps and Features.
      • Find Microsoft 365 or Office.
      • Select Modify.
      • If available, start with Quick Repair. If the issue continues, run Online Repair.
      • Restart the PC after the repair finishes.
    4. If the problem happens when opening a specific workbook, try repairing the file.
      • In Excel, select File > Open > Browse.
      • Select the workbook.
      • Click the arrow next to Open and choose Open and Repair.

    If Excel opens normally in Safe Mode, the issue is usually an add-in. If Safe Mode also fails, the issue is more likely the Office installation and Online Repair is the stronger repair option.

    References:

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

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  2. John Jefferson Doyon 88,925 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-01T23:02:09.5+00:00

    Hi, @Linda Breeden

    May I know what troubleshooting steps have you already taken?

    Have you tried manual repair instead? If you haven't tried it yet, please follow the steps below.

    If you haven't tried anything yet please start by:

    First, please check if your Microsoft 365 is active or if your Office license is listed. You can do this by signing in at https://account.microsoft.com/services if the subscription is active or if your Office license is listed, try these steps:

    Repair Office apps:

    • Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
    • Find Microsoft 365 or Office in the list, select it, then choose Change > Quick Repair.
    • If that doesn’t help, run the repair again but select Online Repair instead.

    Check for updates:

    • Open any Office app (if it opens even briefly), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
    • Restart your device after repair and try opening the apps again.

    If the apps still don’t open, please let me know if you’re using Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase version (like Office 2021), so I can guide you with the next specific steps.

    Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions or concerns.

    Click "Add comment" to let me know.

    Thanks!

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