Excel Performance Problems

Fix "Excel Reports It Has Run Out of Resources" Error

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is encountering an "out of resources" error message in Excel, which persists even in new workbooks and after setting calculation options to manual.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening new workbooks or interacting with existing workbooks containing multiple worksheets.
Observed behavior: Excel displays an out-of-resources error message and shows unexpected lines through subtotals, totals, and data rows regardless of calculation settings.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all currently open documents and close any background applications to free up system memory before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Check and Modify Hidden Workbooks

Since the error appears in completely new workbooks, a hidden personal macro workbook or auto-start template might be consuming your system resources.

Excel often loads hidden workbooks (like PERSONAL.XLSB) at startup. If these files become bloated with unnecessary data or complex formulas, they will trigger resource errors even when you open a blank document.

Open the View Tab

Launch Excel and navigate to the 'View' tab on the main ribbon.

Unhide Workbooks

In the 'Window' group, click on the 'Unhide' button.

Select the Hidden File

If a dialog box appears, select the hidden workbook from the list and click 'OK' to make it visible.

Clean Up the File

Review the unhidden workbook. Delete any unnecessary worksheets, clear out complex volatile formulas, and remove excessive formatting. Save and hide the workbook again.

Solution 2

Disable Third-Party Add-ins

Faulty or highly demanding COM add-ins can cause Excel to rapidly run out of memory and resources.

Solution 3

Update Excel and Check System Architecture

Running an outdated version of Excel or using the 32-bit architecture can severely limit the memory available to the application.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Lightweight Spreadsheet Experience

If you frequently encounter resource limitations or performance issues in Microsoft Excel, WPS Office provides a highly efficient, lightweight alternative. It processes large datasets smoothly without heavily draining your computer's RAM and CPU.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch the application and select 'Spreadsheet' from the home screen.
3. Edit Your Workbooks Seamlessly: Click 'Open' to import your heavy Excel files and enjoy smooth, resource-efficient editing.

Lightweight installation that consumes minimal system resources and memory.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Handles large datasets and complex formulas efficiently without freezing.Familiar user interface that requires zero learning curve to switch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel say it has run out of resources while calculating formulas?

This typically occurs when your workbook contains highly complex formulas, volatile functions (like INDIRECT or OFFSET), or circular references that exceed the memory allocation limit for the application.

Can excessive conditional formatting cause Excel to run out of resources?

Yes. Applying conditional formatting rules to entire columns (e.g., A:A) instead of specific data ranges forces Excel to evaluate over a million rows, which can easily exhaust system memory.

How do I stop Excel from calculating formulas automatically to save resources?

Navigate to the 'Formulas' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Calculation Options' in the Calculation group, and select 'Manual'. You can press F9 whenever you are ready to recalculate the workbook.

Does upgrading to 64-bit Excel prevent resource errors?

Yes. While 32-bit Excel can only access up to 2GB of RAM regardless of your computer's hardware, 64-bit Excel can access virtually unlimited memory, drastically reducing out-of-resource errors for large files.

Excel & Data Problems