How to Fix Excel Freezing on Getting Taxonomy Data
Question details
The user experiences computer freezes and extremely slow formula calculations when Excel displays a 'Getting taxonomy data' message.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening workbooks containing complex formulas or cloud-connected add-ins like Sitecore.
- Observed behavior
- Excel displays 'Getting taxonomy data', freezes the system, and recalculates formulas very slowly.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as cloud-based add-ins requiring taxonomy data can cause application hangs during network delays.
Start Excel in Safe Mode to Isolate Add-ins
Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses third-party add-ins (such as Sitecore) that might be causing the freeze during data retrieval.
Safe Mode allows you to safely use Excel without encountering certain startup programs or add-ins. This is a crucial diagnostic step to determine if the taxonomy data prompt is caused by a third-party extension.
Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard while clicking the Excel shortcut to launch the application.
Click 'Yes' when a prompt appears asking if you want to start Excel in Safe Mode.
Navigate to 'File' > 'Open' and select your workbook to see if it loads without triggering the 'Getting taxonomy data' freeze.
Set Formula Calculation Options to Manual
Prevents Excel from recalculating heavy workbooks immediately upon opening, which can trigger system freezes.
Repair the Microsoft Office Installation
If Safe Mode and manual calculation do not resolve the issue, repairing the Office suite can fix corrupted background services.
Experience Faster Spreadsheet Performance with WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel continues to freeze on heavy workbooks or cloud add-ins, consider switching to WPS Spreadsheet. It is a lightweight, fully compatible alternative that easily handles complex formulas and large datasets without bogging down your system.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer. The lightweight architecture ensures the application installs in just minutes.
- 3. Open Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx file directly to enjoy fast calculation speeds and high stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel get stuck on 'Getting taxonomy data'?
This usually happens when Excel tries to connect to a cloud-based add-in, such as Sitecore, but experiences internet delays. It can also occur when a workbook contains overly complex formulas that lock up the application's processing thread before data retrieval completes.
How do I identify which add-in is causing Excel to freeze?
Start Excel in Safe Mode by holding Ctrl while launching it. If the freeze does not occur, go to File > Options > Add-ins. Disable all COM Add-ins, then enable them one by one, restarting Excel each time, to find the specific add-in causing the freeze.
Will repairing Microsoft Office delete my personal files?
No, running an Online Repair or Quick Repair from the Windows Apps & Features menu only replaces missing or corrupted application files. It will not delete, move, or alter your personal Excel workbooks.
What is the shortcut to manually recalculate a worksheet in Excel?
If you have set your Calculation Options to Manual to prevent freezing, you can press Shift + F9 to recalculate the currently active worksheet, or F9 to recalculate all open workbooks.
