Office Apps Not Opening

How to Fix Excel OLE Errors and SharePoint Workbooks Opening in Word

Adam Davis Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an OLE error in Excel indicating it is waiting for another application, and files opened from SharePoint are launching in Word or showing as unreadable.

How to Fix Excel OLE Errors and SharePoint Workbooks Opening in Word

Product: Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening Excel workbooks locally or launching .xlsx files from a SharePoint list.
Observed behavior: Excel freezes with an OLE error message, or SharePoint workbooks incorrectly open in Word instead of Excel and fail to read.

Before you start

Before proceeding, save your current work and completely close all running Microsoft Office applications to ensure changes to file associations and add-ins take effect properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Excel Add-ins to Resolve OLE Errors

OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) errors frequently occur when a third-party add-in conflicts with Excel's background processes. Disabling them helps isolate the issue.

Excel uses OLE to interact with other applications. If an add-in becomes unresponsive or tries to communicate with a closed application, Excel will freeze and display the OLE waiting error.

Open Excel in Safe Mode

Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and click the Excel shortcut to launch the application in Safe Mode.

Access Add-in Settings

Navigate to 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and click on 'Add-ins' from the left sidebar.

Disable COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the Manage dropdown menu, then click 'Go'.

Apply Changes

Uncheck all listed add-ins to disable them, click 'OK', and then restart Excel normally to check if the OLE error is fixed.

Disable Excel Add-ins to Resolve OLE Errors

Testing Add-ins: If the error stops, you can re-enable your add-ins one by one to identify which specific extension was causing the problem.

Solution 2

Correct Windows File Associations for .xlsx Files

If SharePoint workbooks are opening in Microsoft Word, your system's default application settings for spreadsheet formats are likely misconfigured.

Solution 3

Repair Your Microsoft Office Installation

Corrupted Office installation files can break both the OLE communication framework and internal file routing, requiring a system repair.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Bug-Free Spreadsheet Experience

If Microsoft Excel continues to crash with OLE errors or struggles to open SharePoint files correctly, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for handling all your spreadsheet needs without the system lag.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installation package.
2. Set as Default Application: During or after installation, set WPS Spreadsheets as your default application for opening .xlsx files.
3. Open Your Workbooks: Download your files from SharePoint and open them directly in WPS Office for a seamless editing experience.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Lightweight architecture prevents common lagging and freezing errors.100% free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface.Built-in PDF editing and cloud storage support.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does the Excel OLE error mean?

An OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) error means Excel is trying to exchange data with another application (like an add-in or another Office program) but has stopped receiving a response, causing Excel to wait indefinitely.

Why are my downloaded SharePoint files showing as unreadable?

This can happen if the file was corrupted during the download process, if there is a version mismatch in your Office suite, or if the browser interrupted the file transfer. Downloading the file again or opening it in a different spreadsheet program often resolves this.

How can I open a SharePoint file directly to bypass browser glitches?

Instead of clicking the file name directly in the browser, click the three dots (ellipsis) next to the document in your SharePoint library and choose 'Download'. You can then open the local copy from your computer using your default desktop application.

Will disabling COM add-ins affect my normal Excel formulas and functions?

No. Disabling COM add-ins only turns off third-party tools and specific integrations (like specialized reporting tools or macros). All standard Excel features, functions, and formulas will remain fully operational.

Office App Problems