Office Apps Freezing

Fix SharePoint Excel File Freezes When Opened in Desktop App

Natalie Taylor Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

An Excel workbook stored in SharePoint stops responding or freezes when users attempt to open it for editing in the desktop application.

How to Fix SharePoint Excel Files Freezing in the Desktop Application

Product: Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening a SharePoint-hosted Excel file for editing in the local desktop application.
Observed behavior: The Excel desktop application hangs, freezes, or completely stops responding when loading the workbook from the SharePoint server.

Before you start

Ensure your internet connection is stable and that your Microsoft 365 desktop applications are fully updated to the latest version before beginning troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Isolate the Issue and Recover Corrupted Workbook Content

Determine if the freeze is isolated to a single corrupted workbook or affects all files, and recover the data by copying it to a new file.

File freezing is often caused by localized workbook corruption rather than a system-wide application error. Testing multiple files helps pinpoint the root cause.

Test multiple files

Open several other Excel files from your SharePoint directory in the desktop application to see if the freezing issue persists across all workbooks.

Copy content to a new workbook

If only one specific file is affected, open that file in 'Excel for the Web'. Select and copy all the data, then paste it into a brand new, blank Excel workbook.

Save and retest

Save the newly created workbook back to SharePoint, then attempt to open this new file in the desktop application to verify the issue is resolved.

Isolate the Issue and Recover Corrupted Workbook Content

Data Recovery: Copying data into a new workbook strips out hidden corrupted metadata that usually causes the desktop application to hang.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft 365 Administrator

If all SharePoint Excel files freeze on your desktop app, the issue requires administrator intervention and a formal support ticket.

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1. Download the App: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website to your desktop.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel only freeze when opening files from SharePoint and not local files?

This usually happens due to network syncing conflicts, corrupted local Office document cache, or temporary server-side glitches on SharePoint. Opening a local file bypasses the network synchronization process, which is why it operates normally.

How can I clear the Office Document Cache to prevent syncing freezes?

You can clear the cache by opening the Microsoft Upload Center or Office Document Cache settings from your Windows system tray. Navigate to 'Settings' and click 'Delete cached files' to remove potentially corrupted synced data.

Is there a way to temporarily edit my SharePoint file if the desktop app keeps freezing?

Yes, you can select the file in SharePoint and choose to 'Open in Browser' to use Excel for the Web. It provides core editing functionalities and saves automatically, completely bypassing any desktop application freezing issues.

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