Fix Excel 2019 Taking 45 Minutes to Open Large Workbooks
Question details
The user needs to reduce the 45-minute opening time for large Excel 2019 workbooks containing formulas, macros, stored data, and external links.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2019 volume-license edition
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user opens large workbooks that contain many formulas, macros, stored data, and external links in Excel 2019.
- Observed behavior
- Excel 2019 takes about 45 minutes to open these large workbooks, much slower than newer retail or Microsoft 365 versions.
Before you change links or defined names, open a copy of the workbook and make the Data tab available in Excel 2019. This lets you inspect external connections without modifying the original file.
Check and Remove Broken or Unnecessary External Links
Use this first because broken external links are often the main reason Excel 2019 waits during workbook open.
Excel 2019 volume-license builds can be slower when the workbook contains many external references. Removing unused links reduces the lookups Excel performs during open.
In Excel 2019, open the workbook, go to the Data tab, and click Edit Links in the Queries & Connections group.
Select each source in the list and check whether it is required or shows an error or unavailable path.
Click Break Link for unnecessary connections, or Change Source to point to the correct current file.
Inspect Defined Names and Hidden Ranges for Embedded Links
Use this when external links still remain after checking Edit Links, because links can be hidden in defined names or ranges.
Optimize Formulas, Volatile Functions, and Macros
Use this if link cleanup is not enough, because calculation behavior and volatile functions can also slow workbook opening and recalculation.
Open Large .xlsx Workbooks Faster with WPS Office
WPS Office is a free, lightweight Office suite that opens Excel .xlsx workbooks while keeping formatting, formulas, and data intact. If Excel 2019 volume-license behavior remains slow, WPS Spreadsheets gives you a familiar tab-based interface and faster everyday editing without a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office website and click Download WPS Office Free, then run the installer.
- 2. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open the Spreadsheets module, then click File > Open and select the large .xlsx workbook.
- 3. Review external links if needed: Use the Data or Formulas tools in WPS Spreadsheets to inspect links, defined names, and calculation settings after opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel 2019 open large workbooks so much slower than Microsoft 365?
Volume-license editions of Excel 2019 may not receive the same performance improvements, calculation updates, and link-handling changes as newer retail or Microsoft 365 builds. Large formulas, volatile functions, macros, and external links make the difference more obvious.
How do I find hidden external links in an Excel workbook?
Check Data > Edit Links first. Then open Formulas > Name Manager and look for defined names that point to other files. Hidden ranges can also contain references, and a Name Manager add-in can help locate them.
Can WPS Office open large Excel 2019 workbooks?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets supports .xlsx files and can open Excel workbooks with formulas, data, and formatting. For many users it is a free, lighter alternative when Excel 2019 is slow to start or open files.
Will deleting external links change my workbook data?
Deleting or breaking a link removes the connection to the source workbook but keeps the last stored values in cells. Check the workbook copy before breaking links if formulas must continue updating from the source.
