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How to Fix Subsequent Excel Files Taking a Long Time to Open
Question details
The user experiences a significant delay of nearly a minute when attempting to open a second or third Excel file, despite the first file opening normally and the system being fully updated.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel / Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Opening multiple Excel spreadsheets consecutively.
- Observed behavior
- The first file opens quickly, but subsequent files take 45 to 55 seconds to open, even when the files are very small.
Before troubleshooting, close all active instances of Excel through the Windows Task Manager to ensure no background processes interfere while modifying application settings or repairing the software.
Disable and Isolate Problematic Excel Add-ins
Third-party add-ins often conflict with Excel processes, causing severe performance delays when generating new windows for additional files.
Add-ins are supplementary programs that add custom commands or features to Excel. When these become outdated or incompatible, they can drastically slow down the application's ability to initialize subsequent spreadsheets.
Launch Microsoft Excel, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Excel Options dialog box, click on 'Add-ins' located in the left-hand sidebar.
At the bottom of the window, ensure the 'Manage' dropdown is set to 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go...' button.
Uncheck all the boxes next to the active add-ins to disable them, then click 'OK'.
Restart Excel and try opening multiple files. If the delay is gone, re-enable the add-ins one by one to identify which specific add-in is causing the slowdown.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
Turning off hardware acceleration can resolve performance and display issues caused by incompatible or overloaded graphics drivers.
Run an Office Repair and Check Windows Profile
If core Office files or your current Windows user profile are corrupted, running a system repair or testing a new profile can restore normal functionality.
Switch to WPS Office for Fast, Reliable Spreadsheet Management
If Microsoft Excel continues to suffer from slow loading times and performance drops, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight productivity suite designed to open multiple spreadsheets instantly without draining system resources.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install and Set as Default: Run the installer and optionally set WPS Spreadsheets as your default application for opening Excel files.
- 3. Open Files Instantly: Double-click your existing .xlsx files to open them in WPS Spreadsheets without any frustrating delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does only the second or third Excel file open slowly?
Background processes, conflicting third-party add-ins, or memory management issues in Microsoft Office often trigger when a new instance or window is generated, leaving the first file completely unaffected while severely delaying subsequent ones.
Will repairing Microsoft 365 delete my Excel spreadsheets?
No. Running a Quick Repair or Online Repair only fixes the application's core installation files and registry keys. Your personal spreadsheets, documents, and stored data remain completely safe and untouched.
Does file size affect how fast Microsoft Excel opens?
Normally, heavily populated or large files take longer to load. However, if your extremely small files are taking nearly a minute to open, it strongly indicates an application error, conflicting add-in, or system configuration issue rather than a file size constraint.
