Forum Discussion
Excel Desktop App hangs when attempting to open documents from SharePoint to edit
User attempts to open Excel Documents saved in SharePoint by selecting Edit in Desktop App. As the Excel Desktop App begins to open a message displays stating: We have opened this document in Microsoft Excel in your computer. However, the Excel App just hangs without fully opening (see Screenshot).
No problem detected when opening the Excel Desktop app directly, Desktop App opens freely. Excel MS365 is up-to-date version 2609 build 16.0.20430 64 Bit (Before reinstall).
I have uninstalled the MS365 Office packet and reinstall it directly from the User's Office Portal, to no avail.
1 Reply
Excel starting normally but hanging when SharePoint hands it a workbook narrows the problem to opening that document or connection, not simply launching Excel. Since reinstalling already failed, isolate those paths before repeating it.
Check whether the same workbook opens in Excel for the web. If your organization permits it, download a test copy to an approved local folder and open that copy without changing the shared original. Next, close Excel, run excel /safe, and repeat the local test. Safe mode bypasses startup customizations and most add-ins, making it useful for comparison.
If safe mode succeeds, disable COM add-ins and reintroduce them individually in normal mode. If local files work but SharePoint opening fails, give your administrator that distinction, the exact Office build, and a reproducible example. These tests can narrow the failing component; the post does not establish a confirmed version 2609 defect.
