Excel 2016 don't open

Question

I am trying to open excel files with external link data without success. It load until 100% but don't open.

I did tried this solutions:

-Uninstalled Microsoft 365 (Office)

-Uninstall Office 2016 / Clean Registry Keys / Reinstall

-Apply all Office updates including the updates of the day 14/01/2025

-Change Registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Security - ExtensionHardening = 0

-Trusted Locations -> Allow Trusted locations on my network and putted the file share in there permitting the subfolders too.

-External Content -> Enable all data connections

-External Content -> Enable automatic update for all workbook links

Obs.: It occours just in Windows 24H2 workstations.

The current workaround applied, is open directly the excel app and through of excel open the files with external link data.

Excel 2016: 16.0.4266.1001.

***moved from Microsoft 365 and Office / Excel / For business / Windows***

Answer 1

Hi Marcus Monteiro ,

Thanks for visiting Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are experiencing issues when opening files containing external data links in Excel 2016 on your workstation. You have tried several steps and seem to have found a temporary workaround. Thank you for sharing it.

Since there is limited knowledge in the community about this issue, I recommend that you also post this problem in the corresponding section of Microsoft Learn Office - Microsoft Q&A , where there are more experienced professionals who can provide insights for advanced users like you.

I will keep this thread open and look forward to our excellent volunteers offering you advice.

Best Regards,

Jonathan Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist