Excel 2019 application not opening from run command excel.exe

Question

Help required. I am unable to open excel application entirely. I have tried all online fix instructions found in searches, updated windows 11, updated office, then done both basic and advanced repair of office app, restarting multiple times, even tried to change default printer, running the app from the run command excel.exe /safe, etc. And just can't open it. the below screenshot is what appears when running the excel.exe command or clicking desktop icon. Clicking safe mode or normal button on the screen shot error produces the same result, for a millisecond the excel logo appears on the task bar and disappears. Nothing else happens from there, no green load screen, no further error code pop ups, nothing. Dreading having to delete office and reinstall due to data loss particularly in outlook. Would be interested in a method to uninstall and reinstall Excel only if at all possible? PS all other programs in office 2019 home/business work fine also, excel is the only issue.

Answer 1

An advanced repair is an uninstall/reinstall

Uninstalling Office has no impact on data

Is this problem specific to an existing excel doc or Excel itself?

This doc is on the local PC?

You can start Word and MS Outlook?

Restart the PC when fully loaded Hold the Ctrl Key when starting Excel or Word to force safe mode, does that not work?

Answer 2

Hi ChrisTre

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

We also appreciate your efforts and solutions to this issue.

According to the Microsoft 365 and Office/Excel/category you posted, we know your problem is "Excel won't open by running command". Please feel free to correct me if my understanding is wrong. I know that sometimes troubleshooting can take a while and the fact that the problem has not been resolved can be frustrating.

Although the cause of the problem is not fixed, sometimes it does behave like this specific to the Excel application, let's discuss the following cases before finding the real cause.

1. Please try to create a local Excel document, do not link OneDrive synchronization, this will help us to troubleshoot whether the specific document or link OneDrive caused the problem.
2. According to what you mentioned, this problem only occurs in Excel. If it is convenient for you, please try to reset the current Excel to see if the problem can be solved:

• Quit all Office programs
• Make sure there are no files in the following folders:
• Navigate to C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART, press Enter to check if there is a file, if so, delete it, if not, close it;
• Note: AppData is a hidden folder, if you need to view the folder, please try to open the relevant settings >> click the " View " tab. Under the drop-down list find Hidden files and folders and select this options
• Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART or
• C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART
• to see if there is a file, if so, delete it as well , if not, close;
• Press and hold the Windows key + R at the same time, type regedit, and press Enter;
• Navigate to the following keys in turn, and rename the word folder (right-click it and select Rename, such as renaming Excel to Excelold);

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel
  
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Excel
  

• After doing the above, review the problem.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click here to view the article.

Please feel free to let me know if you got any further updates, thanks.

Best regards,

Chandy|Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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Answer 3

Hi Palcouk, thanks for the assistance.

The problem occurs when opening excel using icon or running excel.exe (not trying to open any file type), and the same trying to open a file to view method.

I can start and use all other office applications just fine, word, outlook, publisher etc. Issue is excel alone.

Holding Ctrl and attempting that method of running safe mode results in the same problem. I get the thinking circle for a moment then nothing, no green box excel is loading and no icon of open app appearing on task bar.

I have done Chandy's response instructions with no success of repair also. Then did another advanced repair and no fix again. Also was restarting PC between each.

Answer 4

Hi Chandy, Thankyou for your assistance and detailed instructions. I have successfully completed you instructions without any success unfortunately :(

There was a file in the first path instructed to check and was deleted form folder. The other 2 paths there was no file in this folder. Register keys modified as instructed.

Please see my other reply to Palcouk with further description on the problem.

Answer 5

Hi ChrisTre

Thank you for your clarification, it helps us to investigate the problem further, if the current Excel installation package exists on your computer, you can try the following three methods:

Run Excel as administrator from the installation path:

1. Open File Explorer >> Navigate to the following path:
2. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE\
3. Right click on the .exe file >> run as administrator >> see if it can start normally

Disable graphics hardware acceleration from the registry:

Press and hold the Windows key + R at the same time, type regedit, and press Enter;

Navigate to the following path:

\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Graphics

• Note: If Common\Graphics does not exist, it needs to be created manually.
• In the right window, right-click in an blank space and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value DisableHardwareAcceleration and double-click it.
• Change the value data from 0 to 1 and click OK. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply it.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click here to view the article.

Clean boot Windows:

This operation allows Windows to start in a clean environment and eliminates the interference of third-party antivirus software or other software on Office programs. Please refer to the following official instructions for specific operation steps.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get you back on track.

If your problem is not solved, you could reply to the post again and we would continue to provide technical support for you.