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Unable to open Excel files after restart

Phillip Richcreek 650 Reputation points
2026-05-30T21:36:49.75+00:00

unable to open excel filesI I think the problem occurs only after a Windows restart.
I've posted the issue here in the past, but I can't find it.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 71,160 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-30T22:20:27.4366667+00:00

    Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

    May I know what troubleshooting steps have you already taken?

    Have you tried manual repair instead? If you haven't tried it yet, please follow the steps below.

    If you haven't tried anything yet please start by:

    Perform hard shutdown:

    Before proceeding with the steps below, please ensure that you've saved any unsaved tasks or documents.

    • Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds, or until the screen turns off, release the power button and wait for about 30 seconds.
    • After 30 seconds, press the power button again to turn on your device.

    If issue still persists:

    Repair Office apps:

    • Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
    • Find Microsoft 365 or Office in the list, select it, then choose Change > Quick Repair.
    • If that doesn’t help, run the repair again but select Online Repair instead.

    Check for updates:

    • Open any Office app (if it opens even briefly), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
    • Restart your device after repair and try opening the apps again.

    If the apps still don’t open, please let me know if you’re using Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase version (like Office 2021), so I can guide you with the next specific steps.

    Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions or concerns.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-30T21:37:04.7633333+00:00

    The startup screen shows Excel trying to open an add-in file (ATPVBAEN.XLAM). If Excel hangs or files won’t open after a restart, the issue is often caused by an add-in or a workbook that is being auto‑opened from a startup folder.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Disable Excel/COM add-ins
      1. Open Excel (just the app, not a workbook, if possible).
      2. Go to File > Options > Add‑Ins.
      3. At the bottom, in Manage, select COM Add‑Ins and choose Go.
      4. Clear one add‑in, select OK, then close and reopen Excel by double‑clicking a workbook.
      5. If the problem continues, repeat for each COM add‑in.
      6. If still failing, repeat steps 1–4 but choose Excel Add‑Ins in Manage, and test each Excel add‑in one by one. If Excel opens files correctly after turning off a specific add‑in, leave that add‑in disabled or update it from the manufacturer’s site.
    2. Check workbooks/add-ins in XLStart
      1. In Excel, select File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
      2. Select Trusted Locations and note the path to the XLStart folder.
      3. Close Excel.
      4. In File Explorer, go to that XLStart folder and move all files (including .XLAM/.XLSB/.XLSX) to another folder.
      5. Start Excel normally and open a workbook.
      6. If Excel now works, move the files back to XLStart one by one, restarting Excel each time, until the problematic file is found.
    3. Check any alternate startup folder
      1. Open Excel and go to File > Options > Advanced.
      2. Under General, look at At startup, open all files in.
      3. Note that folder path, then close Excel.
      4. Move all files out of that folder.
      5. Start Excel and test again.
      6. If it works, move items back one at a time to identify the file that causes the issue.
    4. Repair Office if needed If Excel still cannot open files after disabling add‑ins and clearing startup folders, run a repair of Office:
      1. Open Control Panel.
      2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
      3. Select the Office product and choose Change.
      4. Choose Quick Repair, then Repair.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, follow the remaining options in the blank‑screen article (UE‑V repair, compatibility mode checks, and contacting Microsoft Support) as described in the referenced documentation.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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