Excel won't open, getting an error message that is saying Excel can't open and asking if I want to repair it now but when I say yes it doesn't fix the issue

Question

I've been using excel for my budget and for the last few weeks it won't open. I get an error message that pops up and tells me that it can't open and it gives me an option to repair it now. When I hit yes then it shuts it down and doesn't fix the problem.

Answer 1

If Excel is not opening and you are encountering an error message prompting you to repair it, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Repair Office: Since the built-in repair option is not resolving the issue, you might want to try an online repair. To do this, follow these steps based on your version of Windows:
   • Windows 10: Go to Settings > Apps > find your Office program, select it, and click Modify. Choose Online Repair and follow the prompts.
   • Windows 8/7: Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, select your Office installation, click Change, and then select Online Repair.
2. Reset File Associations: Ensure that Excel file associations are set correctly. You can do this by right-clicking an Excel file, selecting Properties, and checking the Opens with section. If it’s not set to Excel, change it to the correct program.
3. Disable Add-ins: Sometimes, add-ins can cause Excel to malfunction. Disable them by going to File > Options > Add-Ins, then manage COM Add-ins and Excel Add-ins to disable them one by one.
4. Check for Updates: Ensure that your Office installation is up to date. Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
5. Try Opening in Safe Mode: You can try opening Excel in Safe Mode by holding down the Ctrl key while starting Excel. This can help determine if the issue is related to add-ins or custom settings.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider reinstalling Office or contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.

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References:

• Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel
• Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel
• Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel

Answer 2

If that 'Repair Now' button is not resolving the problem, the best option is to perform a full repair of your Office installation.

Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Start Menu)

Go to Apps, then scroll down to find Microsoft Office

Select that and choose Modify - Online Repair

That should fix any issues with your Office Installation.