EXCEL WORKBOOK CRASH

First make a backup, then use Open and Repair on the original workbook because a repeatable crash while copying particular worksheets is more likely to be workbook- or sheet-specific than a confirmed general “Move or Copy” issue.

1. Repair and retest the workbook

1. Close Excel completely.
2. If the file is on OneDrive, SharePoint, a network drive, USB drive, or a synchronized folder, copy it to a local folder first. Testing locally separates file-content problems from storage or synchronization issues.^1^
3. Open Excel without opening the workbook.
4. Select File → Open → Browse.
5. Select the workbook, click the arrow beside Open, and choose Open and Repair.
6. Select Repair.
7. Save the repaired file under a new name, then try:
   • Copying the worksheet that previously worked.
   • Saving and closing that new workbook.
   • Copying the second worksheet into another new workbook.

If Repair fails, repeat the process and select Extract Data. That option attempts to recover values and formulas, but it may not preserve every workbook feature.^2^

2. Identify whether one worksheet triggers the crash

Create a blank workbook and test Move or Copy with each source worksheet individually:

1. Right-click a worksheet tab.
2. Select Move or Copy.
3. Under To book, select the blank workbook.
4. Select Create a copy, then OK.
5. Save and close the destination workbook before testing the next sheet.

Interpret the result:

• Only one sheet crashes: that sheet probably contains problematic formatting, objects, formulas, or defined names.
• The second copy crashes regardless of the sheet: continue with Safe Mode and update checks below.
• Every sheet works in a new blank workbook: rebuild the original by moving its sheets into a clean workbook. Microsoft documents using a filler worksheet, grouping the original sheets, and choosing Move or Copy → (New Book) as a workbook-recovery approach.^3^

3. If one worksheet is responsible

Work on a backup copy. Common workbook-content causes include excessive styles, invalid defined names, whole-column formulas, and large numbers of hidden objects.^1^

On the affected sheet:

1. Select Home → Find & Select → Selection Pane.
2. Look for unexpectedly large numbers of pictures, shapes, comments, charts, or hidden objects.
3. Remove only objects that are confirmed unnecessary.
4. Check Formulas → Name Manager for invalid names or unwanted links.
5. Check whether formulas reference entire columns, such as A:A, and restrict them to the required range where practical.
6. As a diagnostic test, save another backup, then choose Home → Conditional Formatting → Clear Rules → Clear Rules from Entire Sheet.

Excessive objects and corrupted conditional formatting can increase memory use and cause hangs or crashes. If clearing conditional formatting fixes the copy, return to the original backup and rebuild only the required rules.^4^

4. If the crash occurs with different workbooks

Test without add-ins:

1. Press Windows+R.
2. Enter excel /safe, then select OK.
3. Open the workbook and repeat the two worksheet-copy operations.

If it works in Safe Mode:

1. Open Excel normally.
2. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
3. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins → Go.
4. Clear all add-ins and restart Excel.
5. Re-enable them one at a time, restarting Excel after each, until the crash returns.^1^

Also select File → Account → Update Options → Update Now, then check Microsoft’s current Excel issue list. No broadly documented issue shown there precisely matches a manual Move or Copy → New Book crash, so do not assume an update regression without matching the installed build and symptoms.^5^

If Excel also crashes with a newly created test workbook in Safe Mode, run Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Microsoft 365 → … → Modify → Online Repair → Repair. Online Repair is more comprehensive than Quick Repair.^6^

References

1. Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working
2. Repairing a corrupted workbook
3. Troubleshoot why Excel doesn't save changes
4. How to clean up an Excel workbook so that it uses less memory
5. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Excel for Windows
6. Repair an Office application