Office Apps Freezing

How to Fix Excel Freezing When Pressing the Delete Key

Maira Mehtab Sep 24, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience Microsoft Excel freezing, hanging, or becoming completely unresponsive specifically when pressing the Delete key to clear cell contents, even in a completely new workbook.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing cells or clearing spreadsheet content using the Delete key.
Observed behavior: Excel stops responding and freezes immediately after the Delete key is pressed, whereas other applications on the system continue to function normally.

Before you start

Before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps, ensure you have saved any open workbooks to prevent data loss and close all other background applications to isolate the issue.

Solution 1Recommended

Launch Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and customizations, which are common culprits for keyboard-related freezing issues.

Often, conflicting third-party COM add-ins or corrupted startup files can intercept keyboard inputs, causing the application to hang. Safe Mode allows you to open Excel cleanly to identify the root cause.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.

Launch Safe Mode

Type 'excel /safe' (without quotes) and press Enter. Once Excel opens, try pressing the Delete key to see if it still freezes.

Manage Add-ins

If Excel does not freeze in Safe Mode, navigate to File > Options > Add-ins. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down list at the bottom and click Go.

Disable and test

Uncheck all add-ins in the list and click OK. Close Excel and restart it normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Identify the Culprit: If disabling all add-ins fixes the issue, you can re-enable them one by one to pinpoint exactly which add-in is causing Excel to freeze.

Solution 2

Update and Repair Microsoft Office

Outdated software or corrupted program files can cause Excel to freeze unexpectedly. Running an online repair can replace broken system files.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable and Free Spreadsheet Experience

If Microsoft Excel continues to freeze or hang during your daily tasks, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, highly stable, and completely free Office suite that works seamlessly with your existing files without unexpected crashes.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free, lightweight installer.
2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and directly open your existing .xlsx or .xls workbooks.
3. Edit Smoothly: Enjoy a stable editing experience where you can clear contents and use shortcuts without the software hanging.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Lightweight design ensures fast loading and stable performance, preventing freezing issues during editing.Familiar user interface makes switching effortless with zero learning curve.Built-in PDF editing and comprehensive office tools in one single application.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel only freeze when I press the Delete key?

This specific freezing issue is often triggered by corrupt custom macros, conflicting third-party COM add-ins, or broken conditional formatting rules that get activated precisely when cell contents are cleared.

Will repairing Microsoft Office delete my personal files?

No, running a Quick Repair or Online Repair from the Windows Control Panel only fixes the software's program files and registry keys. Your personal workbooks and spreadsheets will remain untouched.

What should I do if Safe Mode doesn't fix the Excel freezing issue?

If Excel still freezes in Safe Mode, the problem might be related to a recent Windows update conflict, a corrupted user profile, or even faulty printer drivers. Try updating your printer drivers or temporarily changing your default printer to 'Microsoft Print to PDF' in the Windows Settings.

Can hardware acceleration cause Excel to hang during editing?

Yes, graphics hardware acceleration can sometimes cause display and rendering freezes in Excel. You can try disabling it by going to File > Options > Advanced, scrolling down to the Display section, and checking 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration'.

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