Excel Performance Problems

Fix Excel External Links Taking Too Long to Update in OneDrive

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience severe delays, freezing at the splash screen, or recurring upload loops when opening Excel workbooks with external links to other OneDrive files.

How to Fix Excel External Links Taking Too Long to Update

Product: Microsoft Excel, OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening linked Excel workbooks hosted on OneDrive.
Observed behavior: Excel remains stuck on the splash screen for over ten minutes, fails to update links, or ignores manual link update settings while OneDrive enters a continuous upload loop.

Before you start

Verify your current Microsoft Office version and ensure your internet connection is stable before troubleshooting OneDrive sync behaviors.

Solution 1Recommended

Check and Resolve OneDrive Sync Loops

Since external links rely on file paths, fixing a stuck OneDrive upload loop can resolve the Excel freezing issue.

Excel often hangs on the splash screen because it is waiting for OneDrive to release a file or finish a synchronization process. If OneDrive is stuck in a recurring upload loop, Excel cannot complete the external link update.

Open OneDrive Activity Center

Click the OneDrive cloud icon located in your Windows system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) to view recent file sync activities.

Identify and Pause Syncing

Look for any workbooks that appear to finish uploading and then immediately start uploading again. Click the gear icon (Settings) and select 'Pause syncing' for 2 hours.

Resume and Force Refresh

Wait a few moments, click the gear icon again, and select 'Resume syncing' to force OneDrive to establish a fresh connection to the cloud.

Verify Sync Status

Open File Explorer and check the OneDrive folder. Ensure all linked Excel workbooks display a solid green checkmark, indicating they are fully synchronized.

Synchronization Check: Once the recurring upload loop is broken, Excel should be able to read the external links without hanging at the startup screen.

Solution 2

Modify External Link Update Prompts in Excel

Change how Excel handles external links upon opening to prevent it from freezing while trying to fetch data.

Solution 3

Test Local Copies and Report to Support

Isolate the issue by testing files outside of OneDrive and collect logs for Microsoft Support if the bug persists across multiple workstations.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for Faster Spreadsheet Performance

If Microsoft Excel continues to hang or struggle with external links on OneDrive, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment that handles linked spreadsheets smoothly without unnecessary background sync delays.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click 'Open', and select your existing .xlsx workbook.
3. Manage Data Smoothly: Enjoy fast loading times and manage your external spreadsheet links without performance bottlenecks.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Lightweight installation with fast startup times without splash screen hangsReliable handling of local and cloud-based spreadsheetsFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel freeze on the splash screen when opening a file?

This usually happens when Excel attempts to fetch data from external links hosted on a cloud service like OneDrive, but the synchronization process is stuck in a loop, causing Excel to wait indefinitely.

Can I stop Excel from automatically updating external links when opening?

Yes, you can go to Data > Edit Links > Startup Prompt, and select the option to not update automatic links. Note that certain versions of Office may experience a bug where this setting reverts automatically.

Does pausing OneDrive fix the Excel link issue?

Temporarily pausing OneDrive can interrupt the broken upload loop, allowing Excel to open the file locally without hanging. You will need to resume synchronization later to save changes to the cloud.

How do I fix a OneDrive recurring upload loop?

You can resolve this by pausing and resuming the sync from the OneDrive taskbar icon. If that fails, try moving the affected file out of the OneDrive folder, waiting a moment, and moving it back to force a fresh upload.

Excel & Data Problems