Excel Performance Problems

How to Fix Excel 2016 Not Enough Memory or Disk Space Errors

Bushra Parveen Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users encounter a memory or disk space error when attempting to open or save workbooks in Excel 2016, even when the system has sufficient free storage available.

How to Fix Excel 2016 Not Enough Memory or Disk Space Errors

Product: Microsoft Excel 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening, saving, or updating external links in an Excel workbook.
Observed behavior: Excel displays a 'not enough memory or disk space' error and fails to open or save the document. Files containing external links may also become corrupted upon updating.

Before you start

Before attempting any troubleshooting steps or updating link paths, create a backup copy of your problematic Excel workbooks to prevent permanent data loss during the repair process.

Solution 1Recommended

Launch Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Use this method to determine if a third-party add-in or extension is consuming excessive memory and causing the error.

Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses startup programs and add-ins. If the file opens without the memory error in Safe Mode, an installed add-in is likely the culprit and must be disabled.

Open Run Dialog

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Start in Safe Mode

Type 'excel /safe' (without quotes) into the text box and press Enter to launch Excel in Safe Mode.

Test the File

Attempt to open or save your problematic workbook. If it works, proceed to disable add-ins.

Navigate to Add-ins

Go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the window, select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down menu and click 'Go'.

Disable Add-ins

Uncheck all listed add-ins and click OK. Restart Excel normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Identify the Culprit: You can re-enable your add-ins one by one to identify exactly which one is causing the memory issue.

Solution 2

Inspect and Break Corrupted External Links

Use this approach if the memory error occurs specifically when updating external links or if the file becomes corrupted after an update.

Solution 3

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

Perform an Office repair if the memory and disk space error affects every workbook you try to open, indicating an application-level corruption.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Open and Save Spreadsheets Seamlessly

If Excel 2016 continues to struggle with memory errors and file corruption, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It handles large datasets efficiently without hogging system resources, allowing you to open, edit, and save your files effortlessly.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch the application and select the Spreadsheets module.
3. Load Your File: Click 'Open' and select your problematic Excel file to edit and save it without memory limitations.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Lightweight architecture that requires significantly less RAM and disk spaceRobust built-in tools for managing external data links and complex formulasFree to download with a familiar, easy-to-use tabbed interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel 2016 say there isn't enough memory when I have plenty of RAM?

This often occurs if you are using the 32-bit version of Office 2016, which is architecturally limited to 2GB of virtual memory regardless of how much physical RAM your computer has. It can also be caused by conflicting COM add-ins, graphics hardware acceleration issues, or corrupted temporary files.

How can I safely update external links without corrupting my workbook?

Before updating, ensure that all source files are accessible on your local drive or network and haven't been moved or renamed. You can change your Trust Center settings to prompt before updating links, allowing you to manually verify the source paths via the 'Edit Links' menu on the Data tab.

Does the Excel memory error mean my computer's hard drive is full or failing?

Not necessarily. The 'not enough memory or disk space' message is often a generic error in Excel that points to application-level resource exhaustion or a bloated clipboard cache, rather than an actual lack of physical hard drive space or hardware failure.

Where are Excel's temporary files stored, and will clearing them help?

Excel temporary files are typically stored in the Windows Temp folder, which you can access by typing '%temp%' in the Run dialog (Windows + R). Clearing the contents of this folder can resolve phantom disk space errors and improve overall application performance.

Excel & Data Problems