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Power Query Problems

How to Fix Power Query Rendering Problems and Crashes in Excel

Amos GikundaAmos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing incorrect display rendering or crashes when using Power Query in Excel, particularly when attempting to connect to SharePoint data sources.

How to Fix Power Query Rendering Problems and Crashes in Excel
Product
Microsoft Excel
Device & OS
Windows
Scenario
Using Power Query to connect to data sources such as SharePoint.
Observed behavior
Power Query interface displays incorrectly or crashes completely. This issue often affects multiple computers and Windows versions, indicating a potential product defect.
Before you start

Ensure you have noted your exact Microsoft Excel version and your Windows build before proceeding, as this information is crucial for isolating potential product defects.

Solution 1Recommended

Document the Issue and Submit a Microsoft Support Request

Since persistent Power Query crashes across multiple devices often indicate a core product defect, the most effective solution is to escalate the issue to Microsoft Support via your IT administrator.

When Power Query rendering issues or crashes happen consistently across different PCs and Windows versions (especially with SharePoint connections), it is highly likely a bug within Excel itself rather than a localized configuration error.

1
Capture error details

Take clear screenshots of how Power Query renders incorrectly or capture the exact error message displayed when Excel crashes.

2
Gather environment information

Document your affected Excel version, the specific Windows version, the data source URL (like your SharePoint link), and the exact steps required to reproduce the crash.

3
Contact your Administrator

Provide this compiled information to your Microsoft 365 administrator or internal IT department.

4
Open a service request

Have your administrator log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, navigate to 'Support', and select 'New service request' to submit the ticket to Microsoft engineers.

Document the Issue and Submit a Microsoft Support Request
Additional Link: You can reference the official Microsoft documentation on 'Get support for Microsoft 365' to help your admin open the ticket faster.
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Experience Stable Data Processing with WPS Office

If you are experiencing persistent crashes and rendering issues in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for your spreadsheet tasks without the heavy resource footprint that often leads to software crashes.

  1. 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite.
  2. 2. Install the software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
  3. 3. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your Excel file to continue working smoothly without rendering crashes.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Query crash when connecting to SharePoint?

Power Query crashes when connecting to SharePoint can occur due to network timeouts, corrupted local cache, or an underlying product defect in a specific build of Microsoft Excel.

How do I clear the Power Query cache to fix rendering problems?

In Excel, go to the Data tab, select 'Get Data' > 'Query Options'. Under the 'Global' section, select 'Data Load' and click 'Clear Cache' to see if it resolves the rendering glitches.

Who can submit a support ticket in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

Only users with administrative roles (such as a Microsoft 365 administrator or an authorized IT department representative) can access the 'Support' section in the Admin Center to create a new service request.