Excel Performance Problems

How to Fix Excel Slowness When Scrolling or Moving Cells

Huda Qurayshi Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users experience significant lag or slowness in Microsoft Excel when scrolling through worksheets or selecting different cells, particularly with AutoSave enabled for files stored on SharePoint.

How to Fix Excel Slowness When Scrolling or Moving Between Cells

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing and navigating workbooks stored on SharePoint with the AutoSave feature enabled.
Observed behavior: Excel responds very slowly, lagging or freezing momentarily when the user attempts to scroll through the spreadsheet or move the cursor between cells.

Before you start

Ensure your internet connection is stable, as working with SharePoint and AutoSave requires continuous background syncing. It is highly recommended to save a local copy of your workbook to prevent data loss while troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Upgrade to the 64-bit Version of Microsoft Office

Switching from the 32-bit to the 64-bit version of Office allows Excel to utilize more system memory, significantly improving performance for large files or SharePoint syncing operations.

By default, older installations of Microsoft Office may use the 32-bit version, which limits the application to 2GB of RAM. If you work with large datasets or rely on continuous SharePoint syncing, upgrading to 64-bit will prevent memory-related bottlenecks.

Check current Office architecture

Open Excel, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

View Excel details

Click on the 'About Excel' button. Look at the top line of the pop-up dialog box to see if you are currently running the 32-bit or 64-bit version.

Uninstall the 32-bit version

If you are using the 32-bit version, close Excel and uninstall Microsoft Office completely from your computer's Windows Settings or Control Panel.

Install the 64-bit version

Log in to your Microsoft account portal, select the 64-bit version under the installation options, download the new installer, and run it to complete the setup.

Upgrade to the 64-bit Version of Microsoft Office

Add-in Compatibility: Before upgrading to 64-bit Office, ensure that any essential third-party add-ins or custom macros you rely on are fully compatible with the 64-bit environment.

Solution 2

Test Local File Performance and Disable AutoSave Temporarily

Determine if the slowness is caused by SharePoint's continuous syncing by testing a local copy of the file and adjusting AutoSave settings.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Faster Spreadsheet Editing with WPS Office

If Microsoft Excel continues to lag or freeze, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight productivity suite that handles large datasets smoothly without system bloat. Best of all, it's completely free to use.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the lightweight installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open your spreadsheets: Open your .xlsx files directly in WPS Spreadsheet for a seamless, lag-free editing experience.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formats.Lightweight installation ensures incredibly fast launch times and smooth scrolling.Built-in cloud syncing that doesn't slow down your local editing experience.Familiar tabbed interface makes migrating from Microsoft Office seamless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does AutoSave make Excel slow when working on SharePoint?

AutoSave continuously uploads every change you make to SharePoint in real-time. If you have a large file, complex formulas, or a slower internet connection, this constant background syncing can cause the Excel interface to freeze momentarily when you move between cells.

Does upgrading to 64-bit Office delete my existing Excel files?

No, uninstalling the 32-bit version and installing the 64-bit version of Office only updates the application software. Your workbooks, spreadsheets, and personal files remain safely stored on your hard drive or in your cloud storage.

How can I reduce my Excel file size to improve scrolling speed?

You can speed up scrolling by removing unnecessary cell formatting, clearing unused cells at the bottom and right edges of your worksheets, saving the file in the binary format (.xlsb), and deleting hidden sheets or broken named ranges.

Excel & Data Problems