Office Apps Freezing

Fix Excel 2021 for Mac Freezing When Opening a New Window

Adam Davis Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel 2021 for Mac becomes unresponsive and hangs when attempting to open a new window or a new file.

How to Fix Excel 2021 for Mac Freezing When Opening a New Window

Product: Microsoft Excel 2021 for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Attempting to open a new window or a new file within the Excel application.
Observed behavior: Excel stops responding and displays a spinning wait cursor instead of opening the requested window or file.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet to download any necessary software updates, and save your work in other open applications before restarting your system.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Excel to the Latest Version

Installing the latest Office build often resolves known bugs, freezing issues, and compatibility problems with macOS.

Microsoft frequently releases updates to patch freezing issues and improve stability on newer macOS versions like Sonoma. Updating to the latest build (such as 16.86 or newer) is the primary step in resolving the spinning wait cursor.

Open Excel Help Menu

Launch Microsoft Excel on your Mac. Navigate to the top menu bar and click on 'Help'.

Check for Updates

Select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu to open the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.

Install Available Updates

Click the 'Update' button if a newer version of Excel or Office is available. Once the installation is complete, restart Excel and try opening a new window.

Update Availability: If the Check for Updates tool itself is outdated, you may need to download the latest Microsoft AutoUpdate package from the official Microsoft website first.

Solution 2

Analyze the Hang Using Activity Monitor

Use macOS Activity Monitor to determine if Excel or a conflicting background process is causing the application to freeze.

Solution 3

Test in Safe Mode and Reinstall Office

Booting your Mac in Safe Mode helps isolate third-party software conflicts, while reinstalling Office ensures damaged application files are replaced.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Spreadsheet Experience on Mac

If Microsoft Excel continues to freeze and disrupt your workflow on Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable environment for all your spreadsheet tasks without the frustrating hangs or spinning cursors.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free Mac version.
2. Install and Launch: Install the application, open WPS Office, and navigate to the Spreadsheets module.
3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Drag and drop your existing Excel files into WPS Office to continue your work without freezing or delays.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) filesLightweight application design that prevents system freezing and resource drainFamiliar user interface ensuring immediate productivity with no learning curveCompletely free to use for daily spreadsheet creation and editing

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel for Mac show a spinning cursor when opening a new file?

This behavior typically indicates that Excel is waiting for a system resource, struggling with a software bug in a specific build (like version 16.85), or encountering a compatibility issue with your current macOS version.

How do I find my exact Excel for Mac version number?

Open Microsoft Excel, click on 'Excel' in the top left menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Excel'. A dialog box will appear displaying your version and build numbers.

Can third-party Mac applications cause Excel to freeze?

Yes. Background utilities, clipboard managers, or older antivirus software can interfere with Microsoft Office applications. Booting your Mac into Safe Mode temporarily disables these third-party processes, allowing you to test if they are the root cause.

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