How to Fix Excel Freezing or Becoming Unresponsive on a New PC
Question details
The user is experiencing recurring freezes and unresponsiveness when using Microsoft Excel on a newly purchased computer.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- HP computer (Windows)
- Scenario
- Setting up or actively using Microsoft Excel on a new HP computer.
- Observed behavior
- Excel repeatedly hangs, freezes, or completely stops responding during normal use or when attempting to open certain workbooks.
Ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated and temporarily pause any heavy background installations or third-party antivirus scans that might interfere with Excel's performance.
Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable COM Add-ins
Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and customizations. If Excel runs smoothly in this mode, a conflicting COM add-in is likely causing the freezes.
Third-party COM add-ins are a common cause of performance issues in Microsoft Excel. By launching the application in Safe Mode, you can isolate whether an add-in is the root cause of the freezing on your new PC.
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type 'excel /safe' and press Enter to launch Microsoft Excel in Safe Mode.
Once Excel is open, click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Options' located at the bottom of the left sidebar.
In the Excel Options window, click 'Add-ins' on the left panel. At the bottom of this window, change the 'Manage' dropdown menu to 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go' button.
Uncheck all the boxes in the list to disable the active add-ins, then click 'OK'. Close Excel and restart it normally to see if the unresponsiveness is resolved.
Install Microsoft 365 Updates
Outdated Microsoft 365 components can cause performance bugs and unexpected hangs, especially on new computers that may have shipped with an older factory-installed version.
Use WPS Office as a Stable and Lightweight Alternative
If Microsoft Excel continues to freeze or hang on your new PC despite troubleshooting, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, resource-friendly spreadsheet tool that runs smoothly without heavy system demands.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the suite on your new PC.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx workbooks directly without needing any format conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel freeze only when I open specific workbooks?
Specific workbooks may cause Excel to freeze if they contain highly complex formulas, excessive conditional formatting, hidden objects, or corrupted data. Testing a brand new, blank workbook helps determine if the freezing issue is file-specific or caused by the application itself.
Will repairing Microsoft Office fix the freezing issue on my new PC?
Yes, running an Online Repair can fix corrupted Office installation files or missing registry keys that cause freezing. You can perform this by navigating to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, locating Microsoft 365, and selecting Modify > Online Repair.
How can I check my current Excel version if the program keeps crashing?
If normal mode crashes instantly, you can check your Excel version by opening the application in Safe Mode (type 'excel /safe' in the Windows Run dialog). Once open, navigate to File > Account, and your version and build number will be listed under the 'About Excel' section.
