How to stop Excel from automatically checking Workbook performance?

Question

Performance check??

The Excel sheet is the way I want it to look and don't want to change it for better performance. I just want Excel to stop prompting me.

Every time I open an Excel sheet, it wants me to do a performance check because of:

"Excess formatting and unneeded metadata cause large, slow workbooks. Check for improvements to performance"

So I find myself X-clicking away this message every time. Because there is no 'excess' of formatting. The Excel sheet simply is a nicely layouted workbook and we want it to be looking this way. We don't need Excel trying to outsmart us and giving this suggestion every time you open the workbook to remove information.

It is only very confusing for not-very-experienced users who also make use of my Excel sheet.

How and where can I set Excel in a way that is stops asking this unwanted question?

• The question mostly pops-up in the Web version of Office 365.
• I tried unchecking boxes in the performance check tool, in the desktop version, but to no result.

Would be lovely if someone has a workaround or knows which box needs to be un-checked.

And it would be awesome if a MS engineer helps giving priority to this problem, so that it can be switched of universally.

Answer 1

This thread shows that there are a significant number of people complaining about this. Unfortunately, this is only a user forum, we understand your problem, but we cannot do anything to fix it. Only the Excel developers can do this if they are instructed to do so.

As previously stated, this is simply a statistical problem, Microsoft must first recognize that this is a problem. Unfortunately, this is not so easy considering that more than 200,000 people work at Microsoft.

There is a feedback portal where you can cast your vote. There is already a feed on this topic, unfortunately with very few votes. I'm sure if we get as many votes as this post has been viewed, then Microsoft will react.

Anyone reading this, please follow these steps:

Click on this link:
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/89bb523d-b197-ef11-95f6-0022484d7a88

1. Sign in
2. Click the Vote button

@HanzieV:

If you mark this reply as answer, it will be the first to appear when someone views this thread. I hope we can encourage as many people as possible to draw Microsoft's attention to this problem. Unfortunately, this is all we can do for you.

Andreas.

Answer 2

HanzieV posted their question on March 6, 2023. Today is September 9, 2024 and this issue has still not been resolved. We still do not have a way to turn off the "Slow Workbook?" prompt.

How does it take a year and a half to address your customer concerns?

I am on build 17928.20114.

Mine won't stop popping up either. Closing it does nothing. Pops up every time I open files. I don't care if it optimizes or not, I just want the notification to stop! This is causing me MORE WORK! Talk about IT nightmare!

Answer 3

The focus seems to be on fixing the Windows version of Excel with varying levels of success so far but no mention of Excel Online. Are there plans to fix Excel Online as well?

Answer 4

Hi Dave P,

Today is Sep 12, 2024 and yet the useless option message popup again. I updated Microsoft on 9/10/2024 (Version 2408 (Build 17928.20156). It is very annoying.
I wish the software development team do a lot of front end users testing and gather options before push out any new function. It seems like the # of Microsoft development team gather front end user testing is not enough.

Answer 5

Hi Dave P,

Today is Sep 12, 2024 and yet the useless option message popup again. I updated Microsoft on 9/10/2024 (Version 2408 (Build 17928.20156). It is very annoying.
I wish the software development team do a lot of front end users testing and gather options before push out any new function. It seems like the # of Microsoft development team gather front end user testing is not enough.

I just started getting this about a week ago Sep 5 2024... it is very ANNOYING!! and making more work for me and slowing me down. NOTHING suggested on this thread works. Please take it out... It is NOT helpful.