Excel cannot be opened because it is updating

Question

I am using Mac with the new OS Tahoe. I cannot open my excel files because it says it is updating. I tried all the suggestions online and it does not work. Here are the steps I have done:

1. Restart and shut done both did not work
2. tried to delete the com.microsoft.excel.plist but I cannot find it in the hidden library files

What should I do next.

Answer 1

If you're experiencing issues with Excel on your Mac stating that it is updating, and you've already tried restarting and shutting down your computer without success, you can try the following steps:

1. Force Quit Excel: Make sure all instances of Excel are closed. You can do this by going to the Apple menu and selecting Force Quit, then choosing Excel from the list and clicking Force Quit.
2. Remove Excel Preferences: Since you mentioned you couldn't find the com.microsoft.Excel.plist file, ensure you are looking in the correct location. To access it:
   • Open the Go menu and select Home.
   • Open the Library folder (hold down the OPTION key while selecting the Go menu to see it).
   • Navigate to Preferences and look for the file named com.microsoft.Excel.plist. If you find it, move it to the desktop and then restart Excel to see if the issue is resolved.
3. Check for Updates: Make sure your version of Excel is up to date. Sometimes, pending updates can cause issues. You can check for updates through the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.
4. Reinstall Office: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling Microsoft Office. This can often fix persistent issues with the applications.

If you continue to have problems, you may want to consult Microsoft's support documentation or forums for additional troubleshooting steps specific to your version of Office and macOS.

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References:

• Excel for Mac error: "The application Microsoft Excel quit unexpectedly"
• "Microsoft program cannot be opened because of a problem" error when you start an Office program