Fix Excel 2016 Crashes When Rendering Multiple Charts
Question details
Resolve Excel 2016 crashes that occur when multiple charts begin rendering.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows (version not provided)
- Scenario
- A user opens or works with a workbook containing multiple charts in Excel 2016.
- Observed behavior
- Excel may crash while rendering charts, with chart.dll reported as the faulting module and exception code 0xc0000005.
Note whether the crash occurs in one workbook or several, and check the crash report for chart.dll and exception code 0xc0000005. Close Excel before starting Safe Mode or repairing Office.
Test Excel in Safe Mode and disable conflicting add-ins
Use Safe Mode to check whether an add-in is contributing to the chart crash.
Press Windows+R, enter excel /safe, and select OK.
Open the affected workbook in Excel and try to reproduce the crash. If it does not occur, an add-in may be responsible.
Go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins next to Manage, select Go, clear the enabled add-ins, and select OK. Repeat for Excel Add-ins if needed.
Restart Excel normally and test the workbook. If it works, enable add-ins one at a time through File > Options > Add-ins, testing the charts after each change.
Repair Office and update Excel and graphics drivers
Use this approach when the Office installation or graphics software may be involved.
Isolate workbook content and reinstall Office if needed
Test whether a particular workbook or chart triggers the crash, then consider reinstalling Office if other checks fail.
Open chart workbooks with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative with a familiar interface for opening and editing spreadsheets. Its Excel format support can make moving existing workbooks easier, although it does not repair an Excel installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a chart.dll crash with error 0xc0000005 mean?
It identifies chart.dll as the reported faulting module and 0xc0000005 as the exception code, but it does not identify the root cause. Test add-ins, Office repair, graphics settings, and workbook content.
How do I open Excel 2016 in Safe Mode?
Press Windows+R, type excel /safe, and select OK. Open the affected workbook and check whether its charts render.
What if Excel still crashes in Safe Mode?
Run Office repair from Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Microsoft Office 2016 > Change. Then check Office and graphics driver updates and test charts in a new workbook.
How can I tell whether one workbook is causing the crash?
Select File > New > Blank workbook, create charts from sample data using the Insert tab, and test them. If the new charts work, copy content from the affected workbook in small groups and test after each addition.
Will WPS Office repair the Excel 2016 crash?
No. WPS Spreadsheet is an alternative for opening and editing compatible Excel workbooks; it does not repair Microsoft Excel or its chart.dll module.
