"Excel not responding, how to save | 4 solutions"

Microsoft Excel is an excellent tool for collecting, visualizing, analyzing, and sharing data on both Windows PCs and Macs. Unfortunately, it can sometimes stop working, especially when saving a spreadsheet. If you're wondering how to save an Excel file that's running slow, the key reasons for the unresponsiveness could be insufficient space to save the Excel file, multiple apps running in the background, or your computer being too slow to function efficiently. In such cases, give it about 5 seconds to 5 minutes to see if the program rights itself. To troubleshoot this issue, here are four top solutions.

Method 1: Exit Excel and Use Recovery Software to Retrieve an Unsaved Excel Spreadsheet Method 1: Close Excel and Recover an Unsaved Workbook with Recovery Software

It can be frustrating when an unsaved Excel document goes missing and can't be recovered, especially if you've been working on it for a while. But there's still hope: third-party data recovery software can search your hard drive for accidentally deleted Excel files and restore them if found.

In this case, you might be able to recover XLSX/XLS files. The most popular data recovery tool on the market is Data Recovery Wizard Pro.

The main features of this data-retrieval software are as follows:

- Supports various file types, allowing you to recover unsaved Excel files, retrieve photos, documents, videos, and more. - Offers numerous features that make it a powerful tool for those needing to recover deleted files. - Includes a preview option that lets you view recovered files before saving them.

"Data Recovery Wizard" is an top-tier option for users in need of recovering deleted or unsaved Excel files. Download the tool now and refer to the detailed tutorial on how to recover unsaved Excel files:

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

Step 2: On the left, you will see the "Path" and "Type" tabs. Click on "Type" and then select "Unsaved Files". You can double-click on a folder to open it or click on "Open". This unsaved file recovery software will help you easily recover unsaved Word, Excel, PPT, and other files.

Step 3: Select the files you want to recover and click the "Preview" button. After that, click "Restore" to retrieve your unsaved files. Make sure you don't save the recovered files back to their original location to avoid overwriting the originals.

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Method 2: Wait for Microsoft Excel to Respond

Waiting at least five seconds, or up to 5 minutes, will tell you whether the program is able to run normally as long as the computer is still running and responding. Often, the spinning wheel indicates that Excel or the system is working on a more complex task that just takes longer.

In most cases, when you run into issues like Outlook not responding or Excel/Word not working, it will take just a few seconds for things to get back to normal; if it's been more than five minutes, you should force-quit the app and try to save your document instead of hoping it will work itself out.

Method 3: Try Saving the Excel File Using a Shortcut

There are many ways to save a file in Excel. One of the best is by using a keyboard shortcut to save your workbook. Instead of taking the time to find the “File” option and then save your workbook, you can save your Excel file with one quick keystroke. If you want to save your work, just hit your keyboard shortcut.

Step 1: After editing the Excel workbook, press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + S."

Step 2. The "Save As" dialog box will appear, allowing you to change the name and location of the file. Click on the "Save" option.

Step 3: From then on, you can save changes to the current file at any time by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S.

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Method 4: Force Quit Excel and Recover unsaved Excel Files

When you encounter Excel not responding while trying to save, you need to take necessary measures. Firstly, you must recover your previously saved spreadsheet because losing data permanently would only worsen the situation. If you wish to force quit Excel and recover unsaved Excel files on both Mac and Windows, follow these steps carefully:

✨ For macOS:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.

Step 2: Choose "Force Quit."

Step 3: Select "Excel" and click "Force Quit."

Select Microsoft Excel and click Force Quit:

✨ For Windows systems:

Step 1: Press "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

Step 2: Find "Microsoft Excel" in the list of apps and select it.

Step 3: Click "End Task" to force Excel to close.

You can enable the AutoSave feature in Excel by following these steps:

Step 1: Click the "File" tab.

Step 2. Select "Options." If you can't find it, click on "More..." then "Options."

Step 3: In the Excel Options dialog box, click Save on the left.

Step 4: Check the box next to “Save AutoRecover information every.” While the default is 10 minutes, you can set it to a lower or higher value if you wish.

Step 5: Click “OK”.

Before attempting any of these additional troubleshooting tips to fix an unresponsive Excel, make sure AutoRecover is enabled in Excel. This way, you can retrieve any type of Excel file. Follow these steps:

Step 1: If you're using Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11, open a new Excel file.

Step 2. Click File > Open > Recent.

Step 3: Confirm the open Excel file. Find the one that was not saved at the time of the crash.

Step 5: A new window will appear, and you should be able to access your corrupted Excel document. To save the file, just click "Save As."

Bonus Tip: How to Prevent Excel from Freezing

Here are some methods to fix the Excel not responding error:

✅Update Excel

In some cases, bugs and other software issues could cause the Excel not responding problem. You can resolve the Microsoft Excel not responding error by updating the Excel application. Follow these steps to modify Microsoft Excel:

Step 1. Click the "File" tab.

Step 2: Select "Account."

Step 3: Click the "Update" option.

Step 4: Choose Update Now.

✅ Search and close any antivirus software

Antivirus software is essential for device security. However, if your antivirus program interferes with Microsoft Office applications like Excel, it can cause the program to freeze or stop working. You need to disable it to get Excel running again.

"Repairing damaged Microsoft Office"

Another possible source of the “Excel not responding” issue is a corrupted or malfunctioning Microsoft Office product. You can resolve this error by repairing your Microsoft Office installation.

✅ Install the latest Windows and Office updates

Also, this problem can occur if Windows and Microsoft Office aren't up-to-date. Therefore, get the latest updates for Microsoft Office and Windows.

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Bottom line

When dealing with big data sets and intricate calculations, Excel users sometimes encounter lag or inability to save their work. This article aims to show you how to back up your stuff and stop Excel from crashing. It's wise to give each of these fixes a shot to sort out the issue. If you've already lost data, getting a Data Recovery Wizard tool becomes really important.

"Frequently Asked Questions on 'Excel Not Responding' While Saving"

Read the following FAQs for a better understanding of the topic:

What can I do if Excel is not responding?

If Excel is not responding, you should consider using one of the methods mentioned above to fix this error. This article talks about 4 methods:

• Utilize a Data Recovery Wizard tool to restore unsaved Excel
• Wait for Excel to respond again
• Save using the Ctrl+S shortcut key
• Recover unsaved files in MS Excel

2. Is it possible to recover unsaved Excel files?

To recover an unsaved Excel file, navigate to 'File' > 'Info' > 'Manage Document' > 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks' in Excel.

Where are AutoRecover files saved?

After clicking the “File” tab, select “Info” from the left pane. All the auto-saved versions of your document should appear next to the “Manage Versions” option.

4. Why does Microsoft Excel stop responding when I try to save?

Why does Microsoft Excel not respond when saving? Excel might not respond when saving due to various reasons. It can stop working if you attempt to perform other tasks while using it. Wait for the current task to finish before doing anything else. If no other processes are using Excel, proceed to the next item on the list.