How to Solve the "Microsoft Excel Has Stopped Working" Error in 2007/2010/2013/2016

Could you please provide the text that needs to be translated into English?

"Microsoft Excel has stopped working while saving"

"Last night, upon completing work on a intricate workbook in Microsoft Excel 2016, I attempted to save it but Windows displayed an error message stating 'Microsoft Excel has stopped working' and prevented me from performing any actions on the document. The unfortunate part is that I hadn't saved my work previously. How can I resolve this issue and retrieve my unsaved file?"

Thanks to Microsoft Excel, we can handle virtually any data-related task, be it simple or complex data processing. Most of the time, Excel operates smoothly and without issues. However, occasionally, frustrating and vague errors can cause it to malfunction, interrupting your workflow. On this page, we will concentrate on the "Microsoft Excel has stopped working" error that occurs while saving and explore potential solutions.

Part 1: 7 Effective Solutions for "Microsoft Excel Has Stopped Working"

Microsoft Excel stopping working while saving can occur due to various reasons, such as an abundance of data and content within the Excel file, the file being generated by a third-party application, interference from add-ins, an outdated Excel version, and more. Regardless of the cause, let's explore how to resolve this error now.

1. Open MS Excel in Safe Mode

Press Windows+R to open the Run option. Type excel.exe /safe and click "OK" to launch MS Excel in Safe Mode. This will allow you to check if the software still crashes. If an add-in or another program is causing Excel to malfunction, running it in Safe Mode will help identify the issue.

To mend corrupted Excel files, you can utilize the Fixo Document Repair tools for file repair. These tools effectively repair severely damaged XLS and XLSX files and recover all content from the Excel workbook while preserving its original format.

Step 1. Download and install Fixo on your desktop or laptop. Launch the application and select "File Repair" to fix corrupted Office files, which includes Word, Excel, PDF, and other formats. Click "Add Files" to choose the damaged documents.

Step 2. To repair multiple files simultaneously, click the "Repair All" button. If you wish to repair a single document, hover your pointer over the target file and select "Repair." You can also preview the documents by clicking the eye icon.

Step 3. Click "Save" to save the selected document. Choose "Save All" to save all the repaired files. Select "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

2. Disable Problematic Add-ons

< strong >Step 1. < /strong > Open Excel in safe mode, click "File" > "Options" > "Add-ins". Select "COM Add-ins" and click "Go".

Step 2: Disable the add-ins one by one to check if the issue is resolved. If you recently added an add-in, try removing it first and see if Excel functions correctly afterwards.

3. Check for Antivirus and Other Program Conflicts

Antivirus software or other programs in conflict can cause the "Excel has stopped working" error. Here, attempt to close the antivirus program as well as any running applications to see if the issue resolves. Additionally, it's advisable to verify if your antivirus software is up to date.

4. Change Default Printer

When you open an Excel document, it tries to establish communication with the printer. If this communication fails, Excel might crash and cease functioning. To address this issue, you can try troubleshooting by changing the default printer.

1. Navigate to the Control Panel. 2. Click on "Devices and Printers." 3. Set "Microsoft XPS Document Writer" as the default printer. After completing these steps, attempt to open Excel again, and your issue might be resolved.

Translation:

5. Repair Microsoft Office

Step 1. Navigate to the "Control Panel" and select "Programs and Features." Locate Microsoft Office in the list, right-click on it, and then click the "Change" button.

Step 2. Upon clicking the Change option, an Office window will appear on the screen. Select "Quick Repair" > then click on the "Repair" button. Wait for the process to complete.

Translation: "" This image alt text describes a scenario where Microsoft Excel has encountered an issue and is not functioning properly, with the suggestion to repair the Office application.

6. Recompile Macros

You can check for macros, as some users have reported that problematic macros can cause Excel to stop working.

If the Developer tool is not in the menu bar, you can add it to the menu bar as follows.

Open Excel > Click on "File" > "Options" > "Customize Ribbon" > Check "Developer" in the Main Tabs list.

Translation:

Step 1. Open Excel and click on "Developer" > "Visual Basic." Go to "Tools" > "Options."

Step 2. In the Options window, switch to the "General" tab, and clear "Compile on Demand."

Translation: "Microsoft Excel has stopped working - Recompile macros"

Step 3. In the "Project" navigation pane, right-click "Module" and select 'Insert' to add a new module. Then, save your spreadsheet and close Excel. The next time you use macros, you should no longer encounter the "Microsoft Excel has stopped working" error.

7. Keep Microsoft Excel Up-to-Date

If your Microsoft Office installation is outdated, you might encounter issues with the applications, such as Excel not working, Word not responding, or Word crashing while saving, etc. You can likely resolve this problem by installing the latest MS Office updates.

Step 1. Launch any Office application, such as Word or Excel. Navigate to "File" > "Account."

Step 2. Under Product Information, choose "Update Options" > "Update Now".

Conclusion

In this article, we've outlined all the typical solutions to fix issues where Excel stops working, and you can attempt them sequentially to resolve the problem. However, none of these methods is guaranteed to be 100% effective. If, unfortunately, you lose your unsaved Excel file, you can utilize the AutoRecovery feature to retrieve the lost document.

Step 1. Launch the Microsoft Excel application and click on "File" then "Recent."

Step 2. Click "Recover Unsaved Workbooks" and select the unsaved Excel file.

Step 3. Click the "Open" button. Then click "Save As" and save this document in another secure location.

Part 2. Extra Guide: How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files

How can we safely recover unsaved Excel documents? What happens if you accidentally delete some Excel files, your storage device is formatted, your system is compromised, or a virus attacks your computer?

Employ a state-of-the-art and powerful file recovery software to retrieve deleted or unsaved Excel files.

Data Recovery Wizard Pro is a globally recognized, trustworthy data recovery software that allows you to restore lost documents, graphics, videos, audio, emails, and various other file types.

Now, download this tool to recover unsaved Excel files in just three simple steps. It even enables you to recover files from an emptied Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your computer. Select the disk where you lost the unsaved files and click "Scan".

Step 2. On the left side, you'll find the "Path" and "Type" tabs. Click on "Type" and then "Unsaved Files." You can either double-click the folder to open it or hit "Open." This unsaved file recovery tool will assist you in effortlessly retrieving unsaved Word, Excel, PPT, and other files.

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Step 3. Select the target files and click the "Preview" button. Afterwards, click "Recover" to retrieve the unsaved files. Make sure not to save the recovered files back to their original location, as this could overwrite the original data.