Office for Mac Issues

Fix Microsoft Excel Crashing on macOS 15.3.2 After Update

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing immediate crashes when attempting to open Microsoft Excel on a Mac after performing a recent system update.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: macOS 15.3.2
Scenario: Launching or working in Microsoft Excel immediately following an upgrade from macOS 15.3.1 to 15.3.2.
Observed behavior: Excel crashes instantly upon opening, whereas other Microsoft 365 applications like Word and PowerPoint continue to function normally.

Before you start

Before proceeding with troubleshooting, confirm your exact Excel version and ensure all your important spreadsheets are safely backed up to OneDrive or an external drive.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Excel in macOS Safe Mode

Booting your Mac into Safe Mode helps isolate whether background startup items, third-party fonts, or system caches are causing Excel to crash.

Safe mode prevents certain software, such as startup items, from loading when your Mac boots. It also performs a basic check of your startup disk and clears system cache files, which can resolve persistent app conflicts.

Enter Safe Mode

Restart your Mac. For Intel Macs, hold the Shift key while booting. For Apple Silicon Macs, press and hold the power button until you see 'Loading startup options', select your volume, press and hold Shift, and click 'Continue in Safe Mode'.

Test Microsoft Excel

Once logged into Safe Mode, open Microsoft Excel. If it opens without crashing, the issue is likely related to a cache conflict or a background application.

Restart Normally

Restart your Mac normally without holding any keys. Open Excel again to see if clearing the cache during Safe Mode resolved the crash permanently.

Solution 2

Reset Microsoft Excel Container Data

Removing cached container files can resolve corruption issues specific to Excel's local configuration and preferences on macOS.

Solution 3

Check for Office Updates or Roll Back

Since the crash correlates with a specific macOS update, updating Excel or reverting to a previously stable version may bypass the compatibility bug.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office as a Stable Mac Alternative

If Microsoft Excel continues to crash due to compatibility issues with your current macOS version, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable, and free alternative that seamlessly handles all your spreadsheets on Mac without the heavy resource load.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Install and Open: Drag the application into your Applications folder, then launch WPS Office.
3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Click 'Open' on the home screen and select your existing .xlsx files to continue working without interruption.

Excellent compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls) and CSV files.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on all recent macOS updates, including macOS 15.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed interface.All-in-one suite that includes Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools in a single app.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel crash only after a macOS update?

A new macOS update can introduce system-level framework modifications or security changes that conflict with the currently installed version of Excel, leading to immediate app crashes until an Office patch is released.

Will uninstalling Microsoft Excel delete my saved spreadsheets?

No. Uninstalling Excel only removes the application files. Your personal spreadsheets saved in Documents, Desktop, or OneDrive will remain completely intact and untouched.

How do I know if my Mac is using an Apple Silicon or Intel chip for Safe Mode?

Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and select 'About This Mac'. If the window lists a 'Chip' (such as M1, M2, or M3), you have an Apple Silicon Mac. If it lists a 'Processor' (such as Intel Core i5), you have an Intel Mac.

Where can I find older versions of Office for Mac to downgrade?

You can safely download previous stable releases of Microsoft Office applications from the official 'Update history for Office for Mac' page on the Microsoft Learn website.

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