How to Bypass Quick Access View When Excel or Word Crashes
Question details
The user needs a workaround or fix to bypass the Quick Access view because navigating to it causes the application to freeze or crash.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel and Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to open or save a document using the standard File > Open or File > Save As menus.
- Observed behavior
- Excel or Word completely freezes or crashes when the Quick Access screen is triggered.
Verify whether the issue happens with all Excel and Word documents or just specific files, and ensure your system has installed the latest Windows updates.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Bypass the Quick Access Menu
The fastest workaround is to use direct keyboard shortcuts that force the classic Open and Save As dialog boxes, completely bypassing the problematic Quick Access screen.
Using these classic shortcuts prevents the Office Backstage view (which houses the Quick Access screen) from loading, bypassing the corrupted elements that cause the freeze.
Press the Ctrl + F12 keys simultaneously on your keyboard to directly launch the classic file browsing window.
Press the F12 key by itself to directly open the classic 'Save As' window.
Depending on your laptop or keyboard layout, you may need to hold down the 'Fn' key as well. Try Fn + Ctrl + F12 to open files, and Fn + F12 to save.
Reset the Quick Access Toolbar Settings
Resetting the Quick Access Toolbar clears customized configurations that may have become corrupted, potentially resolving the freezing issue when accessing the File menu.
Repair Microsoft 365 Installation
If the problem persists, running the built-in Microsoft 365 repair tool can fix broken software files causing Excel and Word to crash.
Try WPS Office to Avoid App Crashes and Freezes
If Microsoft Excel and Word continue to crash or freeze on your computer, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and stable alternative that handles your documents smoothly without performance hiccups.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded file and follow the straightforward setup instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Double-click your existing Word and Excel documents to open them instantly in WPS Office without any format loss or app freezes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel freeze when I click File > Open?
This usually happens due to corrupted Quick Access configurations, incompatible third-party add-ins, or disconnected network drives timing out while Office tries to load your list of recent files.
Can I permanently disable the Quick Access view in Microsoft Office?
While you cannot completely remove the Backstage view, you can bypass it. Go to File > Options > Save, and check the box for 'Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts'.
Will resetting my Quick Access Toolbar delete my macros?
No, resetting the Quick Access Toolbar only removes custom buttons and shortcuts you pinned to the top navigation bar. Your macros, VBA code, and document data remain completely safe.
