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Fix Microsoft Excel Crashes on Apple Silicon macOS
Question details
The user needs to fix Microsoft Excel (version 16.104) consistently crashing on an Apple Silicon Mac due to a dynamic linker (dyld) error reporting a missing CocoaUI.framework symbol.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS (Apple Silicon)
- Scenario
- Launching or working within Microsoft Excel on an M-series Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Excel crashes unexpectedly, and the system generates a crash report highlighting a missing CocoaUI.framework symbol and a dyld error.
Ensure you have an active internet connection to download necessary system updates, and save any open work in other applications before restarting your Mac.
Update macOS and Microsoft Office
Installing the latest updates for both macOS and Microsoft Excel is the most effective way to resolve framework-related compatibility crashes.
A missing CocoaUI.framework symbol usually indicates a mismatch between your installed Excel version and the current operating system. Updating both ensures that all necessary dynamic linkers and frameworks are aligned.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences'), navigate to 'General', and click 'Software Update'. If an update is available, click 'Update Now'.
Open Microsoft AutoUpdate on your Mac. You can find this by opening Finder, pressing Cmd+Shift+G, and entering '/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0'. Launch 'Microsoft AutoUpdate' and click 'Check for Updates'.
Once both updates are installed, restart your Mac. Relaunch Microsoft Excel to verify if the crashing issue has been resolved.
Reinstall Microsoft 365
If updates do not fix the issue, the Excel application file itself may be corrupted and requires a clean installation.
Extract Crash Data for Support
If you need to contact Microsoft Support, extracting only the relevant parts of the crash report will help them diagnose the Apple Silicon specific issue faster.
Try WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience dynamic linker errors and crashes on your Apple Silicon Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and managing spreadsheets without system-breaking framework errors.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the WPS Office website and download the macOS version optimized for Apple Silicon.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .xlsx files with seamless formatting retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'missing CocoaUI.framework symbol' mean in Excel?
This dynamic linker (dyld) error means that Microsoft Excel is trying to access a visual or structural component in macOS that either doesn't exist in your current macOS version, or the app itself has become corrupted. It is typically resolved by updating macOS and Office.
Do I need to send the full crash report to Microsoft Support?
No, the full report is usually unnecessary. Support technicians primarily need the specific dyld error message and the header section of the report preceding 'Crashed Thread: 0' to identify compatibility issues.
Will updating or reinstalling Excel delete my spreadsheet files?
No, updating macOS, updating Excel, or moving the Excel application to the Trash will not delete your locally saved .xlsx or .xls workbook files. However, it is always recommended to back up your important data before performing system updates.
