Fix Excel 2016 Freezing When Applying Bold or Italic Formatting
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel 2016 becomes unresponsive after applying bold or italic text formatting.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Formatting text or applying font styles in a spreadsheet, specifically after a recent Microsoft Office update.
- Observed behavior
- Excel completely freezes and stops responding when selecting bold or italic formatting, even though other applications like Word function normally.
Save your work and close any other open Microsoft Office applications like Word or PowerPoint, as repairing the installation will require restarting the Office services.
Run a Microsoft Office Repair
Running the built-in Office Repair tool is the most reliable way to fix corrupted application components that cause Excel to freeze during formatting.
Sometimes an Office update can incorrectly overwrite or corrupt background components that Excel relies on for rendering fonts. The native repair tool scans your installation and replaces missing or damaged files.
Restart Windows and wait for it to fully load. This clears out any stuck background processes related to Excel that might prevent a successful repair.
Press the Windows key, type 'Apps and Features' (or 'Control Panel' > 'Programs and Features') and press Enter to open your list of installed applications.
Scroll down to locate your version of Microsoft Office in the list. Click on it, then select the 'Modify' or 'Change' button.
Choose the 'Quick Repair' option first and click 'Repair'. If the problem persists afterward, repeat these steps and select 'Online Repair' for a more thorough fix.
Disable Conflicting Excel Add-ins
If the repair does not work, a third-party add-in might be interfering with Excel's formatting tools.
Try WPS Office to Avoid Frustrating Freezes
If Microsoft Excel continues to crash or freeze during simple tasks like applying bold formatting, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative that handles spreadsheets flawlessly without the recurring update bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel freeze on bold formatting while Word works perfectly?
While Excel and Word share many core Microsoft Office components, they process text rendering and run distinct application-specific add-ins differently. An Office update may have caused an incompatibility isolated only to Excel's formatting module or a specific spreadsheet add-in.
Will running an Office repair delete my Excel files?
No. Running the Microsoft Office repair tool from Windows Settings only verifies and replaces the program's installation files. It will not touch, modify, or delete your personal workbooks, documents, or data.
What is the difference between Quick Repair and Online Repair?
Quick Repair uses local cache files already on your computer to swiftly fix common issues without needing an internet connection. Online Repair takes longer because it connects to Microsoft servers to download fresh, clean replacement files, making it much more comprehensive.
What should I do if my Excel still freezes after an Online Repair?
If both repairs and disabling add-ins fail, the issue may be tied to a known bug in a specific Office update build. You can temporarily revert to a previous version of Office using the Office Deployment Tool, or uninstall recent Windows updates until a patch is released.
