Office Apps Crashing

Fix Excel Crashing When Deleting Rows from a Worksheet

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences an application crash in Microsoft Excel whenever they attempt to delete rows from a worksheet that was copied from a previous month's workbook. Additionally, Excel for the web indicates that the file is incompatible.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Deleting rows from an Excel worksheet that has been copied from a previous version or earlier month.
Observed behavior: Excel abruptly crashes upon attempting to delete rows, and web versions of Excel report file incompatibility errors.

Before you start

Before attempting any troubleshooting steps, make a duplicate copy of your Excel file to ensure you do not lose any data if the workbook corruption worsens.

Solution 1Recommended

Start Excel in Safe Mode and Block Startup Actions

Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and automatic startup actions, helping you determine if a third-party extension or corrupted macro is causing the application to crash.

Often, hidden formatting, corrupted add-ins, or unsupported features embedded in copied worksheets trigger crashes when modifying the document structure. Safe Mode strips these away temporarily for safe troubleshooting.

Launch Excel in Safe Mode

Hold down the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard while double-clicking the Microsoft Excel shortcut. Keep holding 'Ctrl' until a prompt appears asking if you want to start the application in Safe Mode, then click 'Yes'.

Open the Problematic Workbook

Navigate to 'File' > 'Open'. Before clicking your target workbook to open it, hold down the 'Shift' key. This prevents any auto-run macros or startup actions from executing upon opening the file.

Test Row Deletion

Select a row in the copied worksheet by clicking the row number on the left side, right-click, and choose 'Delete'. Observe whether the application remains stable or crashes.

Troubleshooting Next Steps: If the crash continues even in Safe Mode, the workbook itself may be severely corrupted. You will need to investigate unsupported features, file compatibility issues, or revert to a clean backup copy.

Edit Spreadsheets Smoothly

Safely Edit and Delete Rows in WPS Spreadsheet

If your Excel application repeatedly crashes due to add-in conflicts or minor file corruption, opening your workbook in WPS Office can bypass these issues. WPS Spreadsheet is a highly stable, powerful tool that seamlessly handles large, complex Excel files, allowing you to delete rows and reorganize your data without unexpected crashes.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official WPS website.
2. Open the Corrupted File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet, click on 'Menu' > 'Open', and browse your computer to select the Excel file that has been crashing.
3. Delete Rows and Save: Highlight the rows you wish to remove, right-click, and select 'Delete'. Once your edits are complete, save the file; WPS preserves the original formatting seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Highly stable performance that prevents unexpected crashes when editing large datasets.Lightweight design ensures quick loading even for complex, copied worksheets.Familiar user interface allows you to continue working without a learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel crash only when I delete rows from a copied worksheet?

This usually occurs because copying a worksheet from an older file carries over hidden corrupted objects, incompatible cell styles, or broken named ranges. When you alter the grid structure by deleting rows, Excel struggles to recalculate these broken elements and crashes.

How do I remove hidden objects that might be causing Excel to crash?

Press 'Ctrl + G' on your keyboard to open the Go To dialog, click 'Special', select 'Objects', and click 'OK'. This will highlight all objects (including invisible ones) on the active sheet. Press the 'Delete' key to remove them.

What does it mean when Excel for the web says my file is incompatible?

Excel for the web does not support all features available in the desktop version, such as certain advanced macros, specific ActiveX controls, or legacy formatting. If your file contains these, the web version will flag it as incompatible and may prevent editing.

What should I do if Safe Mode doesn't fix the crashing issue?

If Excel still crashes in Safe Mode, you should try the built-in 'Open and Repair' tool. Go to 'File' > 'Open', select your file, click the small arrow next to the 'Open' button, and choose 'Open and Repair'. Alternatively, revert to your most recent working backup.

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