Can't Open Excel on Mac? 5 Fixes to Try

Microsoft Office apps have long been a powerhouse assistant for students and office workers alike. Among these suites, Microsoft Excel (also available for Mac) is renowned for its productivity prowess. However, nothing is perfect, and you might encounter issues, especially after an update or when juggling too many sheets simultaneously. One common error you might face is Excel not opening on your Mac. To help you resolve this effectively, we've compiled some quick fixes and other solutions tailored to your needs.

Recover Lost Excel Files with File Recovery Software If you accidentally delete or lose important Excel files, don't worry, as you can use file recovery software to retrieve them. Here are some steps to help you recover lost Excel files using file recovery software: 1. **Choose the right software**: First, select a reliable file recovery tool. There are numerous options available, such as Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. Make sure the software is compatible with your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux). 2. **Download and install**: Visit the official website of the chosen software and download the version suitable for your system. The installation process is typically straightforward, just follow the on-screen instructions. 3. **Connect the device**: If the Excel file was lost on an external hard drive, USB drive, or SD card, connect the device to your computer. 4. **Launch the software**: Open the installed file recovery program. It should automatically detect the connected devices. 5. **Scan**: In the software, select the drive or device where the lost file was located and initiate a comprehensive scan. This may take some time, depending on the file size and the speed of the hard drive. 6. **Preview and recover**: After the scan is complete, the software will display the recoverable files. Locate and preview your Excel file to ensure it's the correct one before selecting the recovery option. Avoid saving the recovered file in the original location to prevent overwriting other data. 7. **Backup**: Once the file is successfully recovered, save it immediately to a secure location and regularly back up important files to prevent future data loss. Keep in mind that while these software tools are often effective in recovering files, they do not guarantee a 100% success rate. Before attempting recovery, ensure you cease any writing operations on the disk containing the lost file to increase the chances of successful retrieval.

Perhaps you have a habit of regularly cleaning your computer, or you just finished organizing your files. You might have accidentally deleted an Excel file, or the system crashed, or the storage device is damaged, leading to the loss of your Excel file. Everything seems fine, but Excel says it can't open the file.

No need to panic or get angry because with this professional data recovery tool – Mac Data Recovery Wizard Pro, you can restore even permanently deleted files.

The Mac Pro Data Recovery Wizard can handle various Excel issues, such as an Excel file that opens but is not visible on a Mac or Excel freezing on a Mac. It can even assist if you accidentally clicked "Don't Save" for your Excel file. This data recovery tool supports the latest Mac version - macOS 14 Sonoma. Regardless of the reason for data loss, it recovers data with a high success rate and can also repair corrupted Excel files on a Mac.

Download this data recovery tool and follow the steps below to recover lost or unsaved Excel files:

Note: You can click “Disk Backup” on the left to create a backup first. The software will recover the document from the backup image, which prevents further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step one: Look for the lost files.

Select the location where your lost Word/Excel/PPT/Numbers/Pages file was saved, then click “Search Lost Files”.

Step 2: Look for Lost Files on Your Mac

The “Mac Data Recovery Wizard” will immediately start scanning the disk volume you selected. The scan results will be displayed in the left panel. Choose “Documents” and you can quickly filter out the previously lost DOC/PDF/PPT/XLS files.

Step 3: Recover Lost/Deleted Documents

Double-click to select the target files and preview them. Then, click “Recover” to get your lost documents back immediately.

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Quick Ways to Fix Excel Not Opening on Mac

If you're sure the Excel file isn't corrupted or doesn't actually exist, try the quick fixes first, which are very beginner-friendly. If those don't work, skip ahead to more solutions.

1. Solution 1: Disable Add-ins
2. Solution 2: Create a New User Account
3. Solution 3: Update Microsoft Excel
4. Solution 4: Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Excel
5. Solution 5: Force Quit All Running Programs and Restart Excel

Fix 1: Disable Add-ons

Have you recently installed any Excel add-ins? If so, try disabling them to see if they might be causing the issue:

Step 1: Find the “Insert” menu and click on it.

Step 2: Click on “Add-Ins” from the dropdown menu, then click “My Add-Ins.”

Step 3 Next, click the three dots icon in the top-right corner of the add-on you want to remove, then select “Delete.”

Fix 2: Create a new user account

You can also try logging into a new user account and opening your Excel there. If you've created one before, this will be simple for you. If you're not familiar with the process, we have a brief overview:

Step 1: On your Mac, open System Preferences, then choose Users & Groups.

Step 2: Click the “Lock” icon, and then choose “Log In with Plus.”

Step 3: Fill in all the information required to create your new account.

Fix 3: Update Microsoft Excel

You can update your Microsoft Excel to the latest version to avoid incompatibility issues. This solution also works well for similar problems like Excel frozen on Mac. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Find “Updates” in the App Store and tap on it.

If you don't see the update, press Command-R to refresh the screen.

Step 3: Download and install the update, and then restart Excel.

Fix 4: Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Excel

If all else fails, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Excel to give it a fresh start, as a last resort for a quick fix.

Step 1: In Finder, locate the Applications folder and select Microsoft Excel.

Step 2: Drag it to the Trash and confirm that you want to move it.

Step three: Empty the Trash, and then re-install from the App Store.

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Fix 5: Force-quit all running apps and restart Excel

You can also force the running program to quit, and then restart Excel, which may work if Excel is stuck in edit mode. But exercise caution if the file is important, and make sure you have a backup before trying this.

Step one: You need to click on the Apple logo first and then select “Force Quit” from the menu.

Step 2: Select “Microsoft Excel” from the list, and then click “Force Quit.”

Step 3: Try restarting Excel now.

If that was too simple, here is a more detailed guide:

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What is the Mac Force Quit Shortcut? How to Force Quit Mac Apps

This article explores various ways to force quit on a Mac. For more information, read >>

More Ways to Fix Excel Not Opening on Mac

If these quick fixes don't help, there are more advanced solutions to the problem. Keep reading.

1. Method 1: Start Your Mac in Safe Mode
2. Method 2: Remove Your Excel Preferences
3. Method 3: Use the Repair Disk Permissions Option

Method 1: Try Starting Your Mac in Safe Mode

Starting your Mac in Safe Mode uses minimal system resources, allowing you to check if any third-party software is interfering with Excel's performance. Here are the steps to check for interfering apps for Intel Mac users and M1 Mac users:

Users of Intel-based Macs:

Step one: Find and click the Apple logo, then select “Restart” from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Hold down the Shift key until your Mac restarts.

For users with an M1 chip Mac:

Step one: Click on the Apple icon and choose “Shut Down” from the menu.

Step 2: After your Mac is off, press and hold the power button. You should see two startup options.

Step 3: Click on “Macintosh HD.” Hold the Shift key and click “Continue in Safe Mode.”

Step 4: Try starting Microsoft Excel in Safe Mode.

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Method 2: Remove Excel Preferences

Microsoft Excel has a "Preferences File" tool that allows you to customize files according to your preferences. You could try removing the Office folder from the Libraries and create a new Preferences file in its place to see if that works. Here's how: 1. **Locate the Office Folder**: First, find the Office folder on your computer. This is usually located in `C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft`. 2. **Backup the Original Preferences**: Before making any changes, it's wise to back up your original Preferences file in case something goes wrong. Simply copy the entire Office folder to another location. 3. **Remove the Office Folder from Libraries**: Open File Explorer, navigate to the Libraries, and locate the Office folder within the appropriate library (e.g., Documents or Pictures). Right-click on the folder, select "Properties," then uncheck the box that says "Include this location in the library." Click "Apply" and "OK." 4. **Create a New Preferences File**: Now, create a new folder in a different location (not within a Library), for example, on your desktop, and name it "Office." This will serve as your new Preferences file location. 5. **Modify the Registry (Optional and Advanced)**: If the issue persists, you might need to modify the Windows Registry. Please note that editing the Registry can be risky, so make sure to create a backup before proceeding. Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog, type `regedit`, and hit Enter. Navigate to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders`. Look for the entry named `{A52BBA46-56A9-4247-8F2D-BD964202AF2B}` (which represents the Office Templates path) and change its value data to the path of the new "Office" folder you created. 6. **Restart Your Computer**: After making these changes, restart your computer to apply them. 7. **Test Excel**: Launch Excel and check if the issue is resolved. If not, you may want to restore the original Preferences file from the backup you made earlier. Remember, if you're not comfortable with these steps, consult a tech-savvy friend or a professional for assistance.

Step one: Quit all Office applications, not just Excel.

2. Hold down Command + Shift + G to open Finder, then type ~/Library/ into the search bar and click “Go.”

Step 3: Go to the Containers folder, and look for a folder named either Microsoft Excel or com.Microsoft.Excel.

Step 4: Empty the contents of this folder into the Recycle Bin, and then restart Excel.

Method 3: Use Disk Utility

If there's an issue with your PC's storage or if you have too many apps running or installed, it might prevent Excel from opening. You can use the "Disk Utility" on your Mac to help check for issues. Let's look at the steps in detail:

Step 1: Click on Launchpad and search for Disk Utility.

Step 2: Click the Disk Utility icon to open it, and then click “First Aid.”

Click the “First Aid” button.

Step 3: Click “Run” when prompted to start the utility.

Step 4. Click “Continue” and wait for the process to finish.

Now try opening Microsoft Excel again and see if the problem is still there.

Reasons Why Excel Won't Open on Mac

Here are some reasons why Excel might not open, to help you better understand the issue. This error may occur if any of the following conditions are met:

• ❎Missing app files: You might have accidentally deleted the app files.
• ❌Corrupted Excel preferences: The preference files for Excel might be damaged.
• ?Damaged user account profile: Your user account profile could have become corrupted unexpectedly.
• ?‍♀️Too many background processes: You might have too many windows open simultaneously.

Last Words

In this post, we've looked at several quick fixes and more complex solutions to resolve the issue with Excel not opening on Mac. You might be well familiar with some of them. However, all methods have their limitations, but if you're sure your file is lost, the best solution can be using Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro, which can even restore permanently deleted files on Mac. Give it a try now!

Frequently Asked Questions About Opening Excel on a Mac

Here are some common questions you might be interested in:

How to fix the issue of Excel not opening on a Mac?

You can try the following fixes:

• Force-quit and restart Excel
• Delete preference files
• Start your Mac in Safe Mode

Why can't I open Microsoft Excel?

Your Microsoft Excel file might get accidentally deleted, and if you have emptied the Trash, you can use professional Mac data recovery tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro to recover deleted files from the Trash.

How do I open and fix an Excel file on my Mac?

You can use the built-in disk utility, or try closing all Office windows and then restarting Excel to see if that resolves the issue.