How to Fix Excel Freezing When Changing Text Color
Question details
The user experiences freezing or hanging in Excel when attempting to change the text color in a column.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Modifying spreadsheet formatting, specifically attempting to change the font color of text within a column.
- Observed behavior
- Excel becomes unresponsive, hangs, or completely freezes when the text color is modified.
Before troubleshooting add-ins, save any open workbooks to prevent data loss and ensure your Microsoft 365 application is fully updated.
Troubleshoot Add-ins Using Excel Safe Mode
Use this method to determine if a third-party add-in is causing Excel to freeze when modifying cell formatting.
Add-ins can sometimes conflict with Excel's core features, leading to performance issues like freezing when applying formatting. Running Excel in Safe Mode temporarily bypasses these add-ins, allowing you to easily isolate the problem.
Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key while clicking the Excel shortcut, or press Win + R, type 'excel /safe', and hit Enter.
Try changing the text color in a column. If Excel does not freeze, a third-party add-in is likely the cause of the problem.
Go to 'File' in the top ribbon, select 'Options', and click on 'Add-ins' in the left pane of the Options window.
At the bottom of the window, change the 'Manage' dropdown to 'COM Add-ins' and click 'Go'. Uncheck all enabled add-ins in the list and click 'OK'.
Close Excel and reopen it normally. Enable your add-ins one by one, testing the text color feature after each, to identify the specific add-in causing the freeze.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable, Lag-Free Spreadsheet Experience
Tired of Excel freezing during simple tasks like changing font colors? WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft 365, ensuring smooth performance even when formatting large and complex spreadsheets.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and follow the quick installation prompts.
- 2. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx or .xls files directly without converting them.
- 3. Format Without Freezing: Select your columns and change text colors instantly with zero lag or performance drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel only freeze when I change colors?
This highly specific freezing is often caused by an incompatible COM add-in or a corrupted display driver interfering with Excel's rendering of new graphical interface elements.
How do I permanently remove a problematic Excel add-in?
Go to File > Options > Add-ins, select COM Add-ins from the Manage dropdown, and click Go. Highlight the problematic add-in from the list and click 'Remove'.
Will I lose my custom formatting if I open my file in Safe Mode?
No, Safe Mode only temporarily disables extensions, customizations, and certain startup folders. It does not alter the data or formatting saved within your workbook.
What if Excel still freezes while in Safe Mode?
If the issue persists in Safe Mode, it is likely not caused by an add-in. The freezing may be due to a corrupted Microsoft 365 installation, an excessively large file size, or outdated computer graphics drivers.
