Office Apps Not Opening

How to Fix the Excel Could Not Start Last Time Error

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an error message stating that Excel could not start previously and are looking for troubleshooting steps.

How to Fix the Excel Could Not Start Last Time Error

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Launching Microsoft Excel to view or edit spreadsheets.
Observed behavior: Excel fails to open normally, displaying a prompt indicating it could not start last time and suggesting Safe Mode as a workaround.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check if other Microsoft Office applications are experiencing similar startup issues, as this can indicate a broader suite-wide problem.

Solution 1Recommended

Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Running Excel in Safe Mode bypasses potentially corrupted third-party add-ins or settings, allowing you to isolate and disable the cause of the startup failure.

Incompatible or outdated COM add-ins are the most common cause for Excel failing to launch. Safe Mode allows you to open the application with minimal features so you can disable these problematic components.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Run command window.

Launch in Safe Mode

Type 'excel.exe /safe' into the text box and press Enter or click OK.

Access Add-ins settings

If Excel successfully opens in Safe Mode, navigate to File > Options > Add-ins.

Disable problematic add-ins

Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down list at the bottom and click Go. Uncheck all active add-ins and click OK. Close and restart Excel normally to verify the fix.

Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Identify the Culprit: If disabling all add-ins solves the issue, you can re-enable them one by one to find out exactly which add-in caused the startup error.

Solution 2

Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant

If Safe Mode does not resolve the issue, Microsoft's official diagnostic tool can automatically identify and fix complex Excel startup problems.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable Spreadsheet Experience

If Microsoft Excel continues to crash or fails to start, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly stable, lightweight, and free alternative that opens, edits, and saves your existing Excel spreadsheets seamlessly without recurring startup errors.

1. Download the installer: Click the download button to get the free WPS Office installation file.
2. Install quickly: Run the installer and follow the prompt to install the lightweight suite in minutes.
3. Open your files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and directly open your existing Excel documents seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Lightweight installation with fast, error-free startupFamiliar tabbed user interface requiring no learning curveAll-in-one suite combining Spreadsheets, Writer, and Presentation

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel keep saying it couldn't start last time?

This error usually occurs due to corrupted Excel settings, incompatible third-party COM add-ins, or an incomplete software update that causes the application to crash during initialization.

Will I lose my unsaved data if Excel crashes on startup?

If you had AutoRecover enabled before the crash, Excel's Document Recovery pane should appear the next time you successfully launch the application (including in Safe Mode), allowing you to recover your unsaved workbooks.

What should I do if Excel Safe Mode also fails to open?

If Safe Mode doesn't work, try running an Online Repair of Microsoft Office through the Windows Control Panel (Programs and Features), or use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant to diagnose deeper installation issues.

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