If you’re experiencing issues with Excel and need to repair it, Microsoft provides several methods to fix the application. Here’s a step-by-step guide to repair Excel:
Method 1: Quick Repair or Online Repair via Control Panel
- Open Control Panel:
- Press Windows + S, type Control Panel, and select it from the list.
- Navigate to Programs:
- Click on Programs (or Programs and Features if using a classic view).
- Locate Microsoft Office:
- Scroll down and find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 (depending on your version).
- Right-click on it and select Change.
- Choose Repair Option:
- A dialog box will appear with two options: Quick Repair and Online Repair.
Quick Repair:
- Fast and doesn’t require an internet connection.
- Attempts to fix issues without reinstalling the entire suite.
Online Repair:
- More comprehensive but requires an internet connection.
- Fixes deeper issues by reinstalling and repairing the complete set of Office files.
- Select the Repair Option:
- Start with Quick Repair. If this doesn’t fix the problem, repeat the steps and choose Online Repair.
- Follow the On-Screen Instructions:
- After selecting the repair option, follow the prompts. It may take several minutes depending on the repair type.
Method 2: Repair Excel via Microsoft Settings (Windows 10/11)
- Go to Settings:
- Press Windows + I to open the Windows Settings app.
- Navigate to Apps:
- Click on Apps and then Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Office:
- Scroll down and select Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365.
- Click on Modify.
- Choose Repair Option:
- Similar to the method above, you’ll be prompted to choose between Quick Repair or Online Repair. Choose the one that suits your needs.
- Complete the Repair Process:
- Follow the on-screen instructions and let the repair process complete.
Method 3: Reinstall Microsoft Office
If repairing Excel doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall the entire Office suite.
- Uninstall Microsoft Office:
- Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Right-click on Microsoft Office and select Uninstall.
- Reinstall Microsoft Office:
- After uninstalling, reinstall Office by either downloading it from your Microsoft 365 account or using the installation media.
Method 4: Update Excel
Sometimes updating Excel to the latest version can resolve issues.
- Open Excel.
- Go to File > Account.
- Click Update Options > Update Now.
- This will ensure you have the latest version of Excel, which may fix bugs and issues you’re encountering.
Method 5: Disable Add-ins
Excel Add-ins can sometimes cause Excel to crash or freeze. You can disable them temporarily to see if they are causing the issue.
- Open Excel.
- Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
- At the bottom, select COM Add-ins from the drop-down list and click Go.
- Uncheck any Add-ins that are enabled, and click OK.
- Restart Excel and see if the issue is resolved.
Method 6: Run Microsoft Office Troubleshooter
If you’re using Office 365 or Microsoft Office, you can use the built-in troubleshooter to identify and fix common issues.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
- Scroll down and select Windows Store Apps or Other troubleshooters and run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the steps to identify and resolve any issues with Excel.