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Excel Not Responding When Saving: 5 Ways to Get It to Work

Try these quick fixes if Excel fails to respond when saving

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Being able to document your work or do other things after using Excel on your PC can become an impossible task. A common problem users report is Microsoft Excel not responding when saving.

Also, users complain about running into theMicrosoft Excel out-of-memory errorthat appears when using the app.

Why is Excel not responding when saving?

Many factors can cause issues with Excel when saving files as pdf, saving files to a network drive, saving to OneDrive, etc. One of the factors is corrupt program files.Corrupt program filescan cause Excel not to respond to its functions.

Other factors that are liable to cause Excel not responding when saving are:

Nevertheless, you can fix the problem by troubleshooting the Excel app and your device.

What can I do if Excel fails to respond when saving?

Before proceeding with any advanced steps to fix the problem, try the following:

If you still run into problems with saving on Excel, proceed with the solutions below.

1. End task for Excel on your computer

Ending tasks for Excel on your PC will kill any background activities on the app interfering with the save function. You can check forshortcuts to open Task Manageron your PC.

2. Repair Microsoft Office

Repairing Microsoft Office will fix any missing or corrupt app file issues that may cause Excel not to respond when saving to OneDrive or Network drive.

You may be interested inadding the Run command to the Start menuin Windows 11.

3. Download the latest updates for Excel

If any update is available, it will automatically install it, fixing bugs and installing the latest features for Excel.

4. Use the Save as option to change the file location

The issue may occur if there is a problem with the location the file is trying to store. So, using Save as to change location will fix Excel not responding when saving to a network drive or saving to OneDrive.

5. Start Excel in Safe Mode and disable the Excel Add-Ins

Starting Excel in Safe Mode fixes third-party app interference, while disabling the Add-ins will fix any issues for corrupt add-ins.

Alternatively, you can read aboutfixing too many different cell format errorsusing Excel. Also, we have a guide onhow to fix Microsoft Excel if it can access files.

Excel Not Responding When Saving: 5 Ways to Get It to Work#

Why is Excel not responding when saving?#

What can I do if Excel fails to respond when saving?#

1. End task for Excel on your computer#

2. Repair Microsoft Office#

3. Download the latest updates for Excel#

4. Use the Save as option to change the file location#

5. Start Excel in Safe Mode and disable the Excel Add-Ins#