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How to Fix Excel Running Slow When Opening Files or Creating Workbooks
Question details
The user is experiencing significant lag and slow load times when attempting to open existing files or create new blank workbooks in Microsoft Excel.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening small files or creating a new blank workbook during routine daily operations on a company computer.
- Observed behavior
- Excel takes an unusually long time to launch or open small files, whereas other applications on the same computer run normally without performance issues.
Save your work and close any background applications that might be consuming excessive system memory before beginning the troubleshooting process.
Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Problematic Add-ins
Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses installed add-ins. If the program runs fast in this mode, a third-party add-in is likely the root cause and needs to be disabled.
Excel add-ins can sometimes conflict with the application's core processes, causing significant delays when launching the program or opening files.
Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then double-click the Excel shortcut icon on your desktop or taskbar. Click 'Yes' when a prompt asks if you want to start Excel in Safe Mode.
Try creating a new blank workbook or opening a small file. If the speed is normal, proceed to the next step to disable add-ins.
Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options' at the bottom, and click on 'Add-ins' in the left-hand menu of the Options window.
At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the 'Manage' drop-down list and click 'Go'. Uncheck all add-ins in the list and click 'OK'.
Close Excel completely and open it normally without holding the Ctrl key. If the problem is fixed, you can re-enable your add-ins one by one to identify the specific culprit.
Try WPS Office for Fast and Lightweight Spreadsheet Management
If Microsoft Excel continues to run slowly or freeze due to system conflicts, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative designed to open files instantly without the heavy resource usage of standard Office suites.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free suite and follow the quick installation process.
- 2. Open Your Existing Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and go to 'Menu' > 'Open' to select your current .xlsx or .xls files.
- 3. Enjoy Fast Performance: Edit, format, and save your documents seamlessly with fast loading times and no add-in lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Excel only slow on one specific computer in my company?
This usually indicates a local configuration issue, such as a problematic third-party add-in installed only on that device, corrupted temporary Office files, or a conflicting background application running locally.
Will I lose my Excel data by starting the application in Safe Mode?
No. Safe Mode is merely a diagnostic startup state that temporarily disables add-ins, custom toolbars, and specific settings. Your workbooks and data remain completely intact and unaltered.
What should I do if Excel is still slow even in Safe Mode?
If Safe Mode does not resolve the slow opening times, the issue might be related to a corrupted Office installation, network drive latency (if the files are stored on a server), or hardware limitations. You may need to run the Office Repair tool from the Windows Control Panel.
