File Cannot Open

Fix Excel Survey in SharePoint Will Not Open or Keeps Loading

Maira Mehtab Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open an Excel survey stored in SharePoint via its direct link because it gets stuck on the loading screen.

How to Fix Excel Survey in SharePoint Not Opening or Keeps Loading

Product: Microsoft Excel / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to access or fill out an Excel survey using a direct SharePoint web link.
Observed behavior: The survey fails to load completely, remaining stuck on the loading screen indefinitely without opening.

Before you start

Verify that your internet connection is stable and ensure that the SharePoint survey link has not expired or been restricted by the survey owner.

Solution 1Recommended

Troubleshoot Browser and Account Access

Use private browsing and cross-testing to determine whether the issue is local to your web browser, specific to your user account, or a problem with the survey itself.

Often, SharePoint web tools fail to load due to corrupted browser cache, conflicting extensions, or improper account permissions. Isolating the variable will help identify the exact cause.

Open an incognito or private window

Launch your web browser and open a private or incognito window. This bypasses existing cached data, cookies, and most browser extensions.

Test the survey link

Paste the direct SharePoint survey link into the address bar of the private window and press Enter to see if it loads successfully.

Try an alternative browser

If the survey is still stuck on the loading screen, copy the link and try opening it in a completely different web browser, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.

Verify access with another user

Ask a colleague or another user to click the survey link. If they can open it without issues, the problem is likely related to your specific SharePoint account permissions or local device configuration.

Check Permissions: If neither you nor other users can access the survey across different browsers, the survey owner may need to check the link sharing settings in SharePoint to ensure it is accessible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint Excel survey keep loading indefinitely?

This is typically caused by a corrupted browser cache, conflicting browser extensions, expired login sessions, or a temporary server disruption on Microsoft's end.

Can I recover survey responses if the link is broken?

Yes. If you are the owner of the survey, you can navigate directly to your OneDrive or the SharePoint document library to open the underlying Excel workbook and view all collected responses.

Does clearing browser cache fix SharePoint loading errors?

Often, yes. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies removes conflicting session data that might be preventing SharePoint files from verifying your identity and loading properly.

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