Excel crashes whenever file tab is clicked

This is a known class of Excel failures where only the File tab (Backstage view) crashes Excel, while everything else works — and your troubleshooting so far already rules out the common causes. At this point, the remaining causes are very specific and non-obvious, especially on Server 2019 + O365 + 32-bit Excel in a VM.

Default printer issue (yes, really)

Excel queries the default printer when opening the File tab.

On VMs, especially:

• disconnected printers
• redirected printers
• removed printer drivers
• stalled print spooler

this freezes Excel instantly.

Fix (no reboot required)

1. Open Services
2. Restart Print Spooler
3. Set a known-good printer as default:

• Microsoft Print to PDF (preferred)
• NOT a network printer

Or via command line:

control printers

If File tab opens after this, you’ve found the cause.

Or…Corrupt Office Backstage cache

This survives reinstalls.

Delete (user profile):

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache

Also delete:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef

Then restart Excel (not the VM).

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

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