Excel Performance Problems

How to Fix a Slow Excel Workbook in SharePoint and Teams

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to improve the loading and processing performance of an Excel workbook hosted on SharePoint and Teams.

How to Fix a Slow Excel Workbook in SharePoint or Teams

Product: Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing and collaborating on a shared Excel workbook through SharePoint or Microsoft Teams.
Observed behavior: The workbook is sluggish and slow to respond in both Excel for the Web and the desktop application, despite removing unnecessary sheets and limiting editing access.

Before you start

Ensure you download a local backup copy of your original workbook before making structural changes, breaking links, or clearing formats.

Solution 1Recommended

Analyze and Optimize Workbook Structure and Formulas

Identify and remove complex or volatile formulas, broken links, and excess formatting that cause performance bottlenecks.

Often, performance issues in shared cloud documents stem from internal file complexities rather than the platform itself. Creating a sanitized copy helps isolate the issue and safely test structural improvements.

Create a sanitized sample

Make a copy of your file and replace sensitive data with dummy text. This allows you to safely test structural changes or share the file with IT support for analysis without risking original data.

Remove volatile formulas

Search your workbook for volatile formulas like INDIRECT, OFFSET, or TODAY. Replace them with static values or more efficient functions like INDEX and MATCH.

Clear excess formatting

Select the empty rows below and columns to the right of your active data. Navigate to 'Home' > 'Editing' > 'Clear' and choose 'Clear All' to reduce the file's used range.

Update or remove broken links

Go to the 'Data' tab and click 'Edit Links'. Review external links and break any that are no longer necessary or cannot be updated.

Analyze and Optimize Workbook Structure and Formulas

Performance Boost: Reducing the used range and eliminating volatile formulas drastically reduces calculation times and loading lags in Excel for the Web.

Solution 2

Save as an Excel Binary Workbook (.xlsb)

Convert your file to a binary format to significantly reduce the file size and improve cloud syncing speeds.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Faster Spreadsheet Performance with WPS Office

If large Excel workbooks remain sluggish on SharePoint, consider using WPS Office for local editing. It's a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that handles heavy datasets without lagging.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free from the official website.
2. Download your file: Download your sluggish workbook from SharePoint to your local hard drive.
3. Open and edit locally: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click 'Open', and load your file for fast, lag-free editing.

Handles large, data-heavy spreadsheets smoothly without lagging or freezing.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats, including .xlsx, .xls, and .xlsb.Lightweight application that requires significantly fewer system resources.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed interface for seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Excel for the Web slower than the desktop application?

Excel for the Web operates through your internet browser, which limits the memory and processing power available. Large files with complex formulas, macros, or heavy conditional formatting usually perform better in desktop applications that can utilize your computer's full system resources.

Will deleting unused worksheets improve SharePoint Excel performance?

Yes, removing unnecessary worksheets reduces the overall file size and simplifies the calculation chain. However, if the remaining sheets still contain volatile formulas or excessive hidden formatting, the workbook may still load slowly.

How do I share a sanitized workbook for troubleshooting?

Create a duplicate of your workbook and replace all confidential information with dummy text (e.g., 'Company A', '12345'). Save this sanitized version to OneDrive, generate a secure sharing link, and provide it to your support team to analyze the structure and formulas without exposing real data.

Excel & Data Problems