It’s less destructive because settings, templates, and other application data will not be deleted. I do it again, and I get this error — well, now I can’t show you because Excel is refusing to open up at all. The error indicates that my previous open was unsuccessful, and asks if I would like to open Excel in safe mode. So I close Excel, try to open it again without safe mode, and… nothing. Click theClosebutton, then try your problem Office application again.

Repair a corrupted workbook

This sort of thing does occur from time to time, and it is often quite easy to repair. If one or more Office apps is acting glitchy, work your way through this series of repair maneuvers, starting with the simplest. Come with me as I write this article in real time as I try to resolve the issue. If you’re lucky, you’ll find your problem covered, and SaRA will fix it for you. However, let’s return to Step 1 to start this process where it also usually ends. You’re working on a document or a spreadsheet, or using email, and BAM!

Download and run OffScrub

If you’re not sure, the Installed Apps list we started with is a good place to look. If you’re coming from section 2, grab thedownload linkfor what Microsoft calls the "uninstall support tool" in itsSupport pages. Its filename isSetupProd_Offscrub.exe, so I’ve gotten in the habit of calling it "OffScrub" myself.

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If you have to go this far during actual Office repairs, my condolences. You’re probably feeling pretty frustrated by now. We’re going to download and run a tool that completely obliterates your current Office installation. Then you’ll download and install a fresh, new installation from the Microsoft Office download page. This process seldom takes more than one or two minutes.

Step 4: Wax off, wax on (remove and replace Office)

One of your Microsoft Office applications starts acting weird or stops responding. Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

• The error indicates that my previous open was unsuccessful, and asks if I would like to open Excel in safe mode.
• If yours works, count yourself lucky and get back to your normal routine.
• When the process completes, the "Done repairing" window appears, as shown in Figure 6.
• This process seldom takes more than one or two minutes.
• The absolute worst case requires running a cleanup tool on the current Office installation, followed by a clean install of a new copy of Office.
• You can also take some preventive measures to avoid losing your work by automatically saving a backup copy of your workbook or creating a recovery file from time to time.

Repairing Office

Even on my 2012 vintage test machine, it was done in under a minute (on a healthy Office installation, I cheerfully confess). When the process outdoor signs for business completes, the "Done repairing" window appears, as shown in Figure 6. Once you’ve clickedChange, you may see a User Account Control window asking for permission to run the repair program. ClickYes, and the built-in Office repair window appears. The Quick Repair option, as shown in Figure 2, is selected by default.



That’s good because that’s what you’ll try next. Note that it says "The app’s data will be deleted." This does not include your files. My spreadsheets will still be there no matter what. What a reset does is reset settings, history, and perhaps more that is specific to the configuration of the program. A recovery file of your workbook also helps ensure you'll have access to your data if your workbook is deleted accidentally or if it becomes corrupted.

Like many programs, Microsoft Office’s tools can be extended by third-party add-ons. You can try uninstalling or disabling any you’re aware of. Exactly how you do this will depend on the specific add-on.

At least two computers at my workplace don't have Office (or its components) showing in the Installed Apps. After the list of installed apps populates (it can take some time, depending on how much you have installed), scroll down and look for Microsoft 365 (Office). Then it took another 4 minutes and 24 seconds for the (genuine) progress bar shown above to download all the files. Watching my network access while this was underway, I saw the typical on-again, off-again download behavior for Windows Update occurring here. The download meter ran as high as 180 Mbps, and as low as a few Kbps while the download was underway. Office’s Online Repair option works and goes through exactly the same steps as Quick Repair, so I won’t walk through all those screen shots again.

It includes options for Teams, Office, the Outlook desktop client, Outlook on the web, advanced diagnostics, and more. When you run a Quick Repair operation, Office will attempt simple repairs using local files already on your PC. This usually takes a minute or two to complete. In about 4 cases out of 5, in my personal experience, this step alone is enough to repair Office properly and restore it to working order.