Excel Performance Problems

How to Fix Excel 2016 Stuck at Opening 100% on Windows 11

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to fully open specific workbooks because the Excel 2016 application freezes indefinitely at the "Opening 100%" loading stage.

Product: Microsoft Excel 2016
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Opening specific workbooks that contain active content or macros on Windows 11.
Observed behavior: Excel freezes at "Opening 100%". The issue specifically occurs on subsequent openings after a user has clicked "Enable Active Content" in the affected workbook.

Before you start

Ensure you completely close all frozen instances of Excel using the Windows Task Manager before attempting to troubleshoot the workbook.

Solution 1Recommended

Avoid Enabling Untrusted Active Content

Prevent the workbook from freezing by keeping problematic active content disabled upon opening.

The freeze at "Opening 100%" is often triggered when Excel attempts to execute corrupted or incompatible active content, such as macros or external data connections.

By leaving active content disabled, you can regain access to the workbook data and inspect the spreadsheet safely.

Open the Workbook

Launch Excel 2016 and open the affected workbook normally. If prompted by the yellow security warning bar at the top, do not click "Enable Content".

Inspect the Data

Verify that you can navigate the sheets and view your data without the application freezing.

Disable Macros in Trust Center

To prevent accidental enabling in the future, navigate to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings, and select "Disable all macros with notification".

Functionality Limitation: While this allows you to view and edit the standard spreadsheet data, any automated tasks or macro buttons within the workbook will not function until the active content issue is repaired.

Solution 2

Save a Clean Copy of the Workbook

Create a new copy of the file without the problematic active elements to resolve the loading freeze.

Solution 3

Consult the Microsoft Q&A Forum

Seek advanced assistance from the official Microsoft community for Office Standard 2016 specific bugs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for a Smooth and Freeze-Free Experience

If Excel 2016 continues to freeze or struggle with your workbooks, switch to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that opens Microsoft Excel files instantly, bypassing legacy loading hangs associated with older Office versions.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
2. Launch WPS Spreadsheet: Open the WPS Spreadsheet application from your desktop or start menu.
3. Open Your Workbook: Drag and drop your problematic Excel file into the workspace, or use File > Open to access your data instantly.

Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeSeamlessly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm)Handles complex spreadsheets and large datasets smoothly without freezingFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel 2016 freeze exactly at "Opening 100%"?

This specific freeze usually happens because Excel successfully loads the spreadsheet data (reaching 100%) but gets stuck attempting to initialize problematic active content, background data connections, or corrupted macros within the file.

Does this freezing issue only affect Windows 11?

While it is frequently reported on Windows 11, compatibility issues between Office Standard 2016 and complex active content can cause similar workbook freezes on older operating systems like Windows 10 as well.

Can I recover my spreadsheet data if the file won't open normally?

Yes. You can recover your data by opening the file without enabling the active content prompt, or by launching Excel in Safe Mode (holding Ctrl while opening Excel). Once open, you can copy your data or save it as a new, macro-free .xlsx file.

Excel & Data Problems