Office Apps Crashing

Fix PowerPoint Crashing When Updating Excel Links from SharePoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

PowerPoint becomes slow or crashes when trying to update links to Excel workbooks hosted on SharePoint due to repeated security prompts.

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Updating multiple linked Excel files located on SharePoint within a PowerPoint presentation.
Observed behavior: The application hangs, delays significantly (up to several minutes), or crashes entirely, often accompanied by multiple security warnings for each linked file.

Before you start

Verify your current Office version by navigating to File > Account in PowerPoint, and ensure your internet connection to the SharePoint server is stable.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Links in a New Presentation

Copying your slides to a fresh presentation helps determine if the original file's structure is corrupted or causing the update delays.

Presentations with complex histories or multiple linked SharePoint items can sometimes become corrupted, causing PowerPoint to struggle during the link update process. Testing in a new file isolates the issue.

Cancel Original Updates

Open the original presentation and immediately cancel the prompt to update links if it appears.

Create a New File

Press Ctrl + N to open a new, blank PowerPoint presentation.

Copy and Paste Slides

Select all slides from the original file, copy them, and paste them into the newly created presentation.

Test Link Updates

Allow the new presentation to update the SharePoint links. Monitor if the security warnings still cause a delay or if the update completes successfully.

Update Duration: The initial update in the new file may take several minutes to complete as it establishes fresh connections to SharePoint.

Solution 2

Create a New Windows User Profile

Testing PowerPoint in a new Windows profile isolates system-level or account-specific corruptions that might be interfering with SharePoint authentications.

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Try WPS Office for Stable Presentations and Spreadsheets

If Microsoft PowerPoint continues to crash while handling complex linked data, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and presenting files seamlessly without system-heavy background processes.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free installer from the official WPS website and install it on your PC.
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3. Edit Seamlessly: Enjoy a stable, crash-free experience when managing your slides and spreadsheet data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does PowerPoint freeze when updating links to SharePoint?

PowerPoint often freezes because it is waiting for background responses from the SharePoint server. If multiple security warnings or authentication prompts are triggered by the linked files, PowerPoint will appear to hang until those prompts are acknowledged.

How do I check my current PowerPoint version?

Open PowerPoint, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Account'. Your version, build number, and update channel will be displayed on the right side under 'Product Information'.

Can I manually break the links to Excel files to stop the crashing?

Yes. Go to File > Info, scroll down to the bottom right, and click on 'Edit Links to Files'. Select the problematic Excel links from the list and click 'Break Link'. This will convert your linked data into static elements, preventing future update crashes.

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