Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Excel Crashing When Opening a Workbook on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel for Mac crashes and generates an EXC_CRASH or SIGABRT error report when attempting to open a specific workbook.

Product: Excel for Mac (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Opening a specific workbook in Excel on a Mac.
Observed behavior: Excel crashes abruptly while opening the file, producing a crash report that includes EXC_CRASH, SIGABRT, and stack buffer overflow information without identifying the exact cause.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet to access cloud backups, and close other running applications to free up system memory before attempting to troubleshoot Excel.

Solution 1Recommended

Open the Workbook in an Alternative App

Opening the file in a different application helps determine if the workbook is corrupted or if the issue is specific to your local Excel installation.

By testing the file in another environment, you can safely extract your data and bypass the local stack buffer overflow issue causing the crash.

Use Excel for the Web

Upload the problematic workbook to OneDrive and attempt to open it in your web browser using Excel for the web.

Use Apple Numbers

Locate the file on your Mac, right-click, select 'Open With', and choose 'Numbers'.

Create a New Copy

If the file successfully opens in either alternative application, save or export it as a brand-new .xlsx file to clear any underlying file structure errors.

Solution 2

Restore a Previous Version of the Workbook

If the file is severely corrupted and cannot be opened anywhere, reverting to a previously saved working version can help you recover your data.

Solution 3

Update Software and Disable Add-ins

Outdated software or incompatible add-ins can trigger EXC_CRASH and SIGABRT errors when opening complex files.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open Your Spreadsheets Safely with WPS Office

If Excel for Mac continues to crash when opening your workbooks, try WPS Office. It's a lightweight, robust, and highly compatible alternative that can easily open complex Excel files without crashing.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free macOS version.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your Mac.
3. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click 'Open', and select the .xlsx file that was causing Excel to crash.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formatsLightweight architecture minimizes crashes and buffer overflows on MacFamiliar user interface so you can resume work immediatelyCompletely free to use for your daily spreadsheet needs

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the EXC_CRASH and SIGABRT errors in Excel for Mac?

These errors typically indicate an abrupt application termination caused by a severe underlying issue, such as a corrupted file structure, an incompatible third-party add-in, or a memory access violation like a stack buffer overflow.

How do I know if my Excel workbook is corrupted?

If a specific file repeatedly crashes Excel for Mac but other workbooks open perfectly fine, and if the problematic file also fails to load in Excel for the web or Apple Numbers, it is highly likely that the file itself is corrupted.

Does reinstalling Excel for Mac fix workbook-specific crashes?

Reinstalling Excel can fix application-wide corruption. However, if the crash only happens when opening one specific workbook, the issue is usually with the file data rather than the Excel application, making a reinstall unnecessary.

How can I prevent stack buffer overflow crashes in Excel?

To minimize these crashes, keep your macOS and Microsoft Office applications fully updated, avoid using unsupported third-party add-ins, and regularly save backups or utilize AutoSave to OneDrive for complex workbooks.

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