Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Excel Crashing on iPhone After an iOS Update

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing app crashes, freezing, and login credential loops when using Microsoft Excel on iPhones, particularly after installing recent iOS updates.

How to Fix Excel Crashing on iPhone After an iOS Update

Product: Microsoft Excel for iOS
Device & OS: iOS
Scenario: Opening spreadsheets, switching worksheet tabs, signing into Microsoft accounts, or accessing files from OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The Excel app unexpectedly closes, repeatedly prompts for Microsoft passwords, or displays false locked/permissions errors for OneDrive files.

Before you start

Ensure you know your Microsoft account login credentials and verify that your current Excel files are safely synced to OneDrive or backed up locally before resetting the app.

Solution 1Recommended

Force Close Apps, Update, and Restart

This resolves temporary software glitches and compatibility mismatches between the new iOS version and the Excel app.

Often, iOS updates can cause background processes to conflict with older app versions. Ensuring everything is running the latest build can clear these conflicts.

Force close background apps

Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen (or double-click the Home button) and swipe up on the Excel app to close it completely.

Update Excel

Open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, scroll down to see pending updates, and tap 'Update' next to Microsoft Excel.

Check for iOS patches

Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any subsequent minor updates Apple may have released to patch bugs.

Restart your iPhone

Hold the side button and volume button, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, and turn the device back on.

Testing Files: Try opening the problematic file on another device (like a Mac or iPad) to ensure the file itself isn't corrupted.

Solution 2

Reset Excel Credentials and Clear App Data

Fixes the issue where Excel repeatedly asks for your Microsoft password or shows incorrect permission errors for OneDrive files.

Solution 3

Report the Issue to Microsoft Support

If crashes persist despite troubleshooting, you may be experiencing a known software bug that requires an official patch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for iOS to Edit Excel Files Safely

If Microsoft Excel continues to crash or lock you out of your spreadsheets on your iPhone, WPS Office offers a stable, free, and highly compatible alternative. It seamlessly handles Microsoft Office formats and connects directly to your existing cloud storage.

1. Download WPS Office: Search for WPS Office in the Apple App Store and download the free application.
2. Connect your cloud: Open WPS Office, tap on the Files tab, and link your OneDrive or iCloud account.
3. Edit smoothly: Tap your existing Excel spreadsheet to open, view, and edit without crashing or freezing.

Highly stable and fully optimized for the latest iOS and iPadOS updates.100% format compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls), Word, and PowerPoint.Lightweight application that saves storage space and reduces battery drain.Seamless cloud integration allowing you to open files directly from OneDrive, iCloud, and Google Drive.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel crash immediately when I select a worksheet tab on my iPhone?

This is typically caused by compatibility conflicts between a newly updated iOS version and the current build of the Excel app. Updating both the iOS system and the Excel app from the App Store usually resolves this bug.

Will deleting and reinstalling the Excel app delete my spreadsheets?

Deleting the app will not affect spreadsheets safely synced to OneDrive, iCloud, or SharePoint. However, any files saved exclusively to the local 'On My iPhone' folder inside the Excel directory will be deleted, so back them up first.

What does the 'file is locked' error mean in Excel for iOS?

This error often appears when the app struggles to sync with OneDrive due to outdated login tokens or network interruptions. Resetting your login credentials through the iPhone Settings > Excel > Reset Excel usually fixes the permissions issue.

Can I open my OneDrive Excel files in another app if Excel keeps crashing?

Yes. You can use alternative office suites like WPS Office. By connecting your OneDrive account within the WPS Office app, you can seamlessly open, edit, and save your .xlsx files on your iPhone without relying on the Microsoft app.

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