Excel Performance Problems

Fix Excel Takes a Long Time to Close SharePoint Workbooks

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to troubleshoot a performance issue where Excel hangs or takes too long to close a file stored in SharePoint.

Product: Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Closing specific Excel workbooks stored in a SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: Excel takes an unusually long time to close the SharePoint workbook, often affecting only particular files or a single user while other files work normally.

Before you start

Verify that your internet connection is stable and check if the slow closing issue happens only with specific Excel workbooks or all files in the SharePoint library.

Solution 1Recommended

Save the Workbook as a New Version

Creating a new version of the file in the same SharePoint location can resolve file-specific corruption or syncing glitches.

Sometimes, the internal metadata or version history of a specific Excel file becomes corrupted, causing delays when SharePoint tries to sync the changes during closure.

Open the file

Open the affected Excel workbook directly from your SharePoint library.

Save a copy

Navigate to File > Save As and save the file as a new version (e.g., append '_v2' to the file name) in the exact same SharePoint location.

Test the new file

Make a minor edit, save, and close the newly saved workbook to see if the slow closing issue persists.

Solution 2

Sync SharePoint to File Explorer Using OneDrive

Syncing the library allows you to open and edit the workbook locally from File Explorer, bypassing browser-based SharePoint sync delays.

Solution 3

Open a Support Ticket in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

If network changes and local syncing do not resolve the issue, backend and HAR logs may need investigation by Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Fast and Reliable Experience

If you frequently encounter performance and cloud syncing issues with Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that handles complex spreadsheets without the sluggish closing times.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer, open the application, and access the WPS Spreadsheet module.
3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing Excel workbooks into WPS Spreadsheet to continue working seamlessly without formatting loss.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Lightweight installation with incredibly fast startup and saving speedsAvoids heavy SharePoint sync issues by using efficient local processing and seamless cloud alternativesFamiliar user interface that requires zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Excel slow only with specific SharePoint files?

SharePoint relies on network requests and sync clients to upload changes. A poor network connection, excessive file size, heavy calculations, or file-specific metadata corruption can cause Excel to hang when saving and closing that particular file to the cloud.

How do I capture HAR logs for Microsoft support?

You can capture HAR (HTTP Archive) logs by opening your web browser's Developer Tools (usually by pressing F12), navigating to the Network tab, ensuring the 'Preserve log' option is checked, and then reproducing the slow closing issue in SharePoint before exporting the HAR file.

Does clearing the Office cache help with slow SharePoint files?

Yes, clearing the Office Document Cache can resolve sync-related hangs. You can do this by searching for 'Office Upload Center' or 'Microsoft Office Tools' on your PC, opening it, going to Settings, and selecting 'Delete cached files'.

Excel & Data Problems