File shared during Teams Meeting Locks up

[Dean Gross]

I have a customer who is having Excel files lock up when they are sharing them during a Teams meeting. They have to shutdown Excel and reopen the files to continue their meetings.

This occurs when on wired and wireless network. The Files are opened from local file server. They never had a problem with screen sharing the same files in GoTo meeting. It happens to multiple people on a variety of Windows laptops. They are using Teams App,

Has anyone else seen any problems like this?

[#2]

Nope, my only suggestion try enabling "Disable Hardware acceleration" option in Excel > Options > Advanced > Display. Not a fix, but could be a work around since Teams leverages Hardware acceleration as well could be conflicting. Not sure GoTo meeting does and probably mostly just CPU driven.

Another item, try updating video drivers first for the same reasons, might be something their with graphics acceleration and the driver and Teams etc. Then go with disabling. 

[#3]

I'm having the same issue but only when sharing excel in Teams.  Happens every time. @Dean Gross 

[#4]

@Chris Webb 

We tried the fix and are still having the same issue.  Excel only locks up when presenting via Teams.

Thanks!

[#5]

Yes we tried it too.  It's still an issue.  Always when trying to share excel and move around in excel.  Multiple users experiencing this.  I've had to use and althernative meeting software as a work around.  I can't wait for a fix. @jrNTexas 

[#6]

Yes. Seeing the same. Specifically when sharing the Excel window. If we change font color and/or change cell color (fill) the presenters excel instance is unresponsive for 30-60 seconds. If sharing the entire desktop everything is fine.

[#7]

@Dean Gross 

I confirm that our entire organization has this problem.  Extremely annoying!  And why on Earth would an app even know or care that Teams is sharing it?!

Microsoft, this is a business product.  We cannot accept productivity hits because of this!

[#8]

We have found a workaround that is quite reliable. When We are going to share a view of Excel do not share the app itself but rather share the screen on which you’re going to display Excel. Otherwise as soon as you scroll around in a sheet you will lock up. Pretty easy workaround still annoying

[#9]

@Ra4rx , where possible we've instructed users to do the same. But in some cases there is a need to only share the excel doc. As you said, annoying

[#10]

@Ra4rx  That mostly used to work for us until recently. Basically excel is not usable in Teams meeting either shared as an application or as part of the screen since a few days. We have to consider another platform for online meetings possibly, especially if Microsoft stays silent about it.

[#11]

I have the exact same issue.  Excel freezes during screen-sharing session, and I always share Screen instead of Excel app/file.  I've had to quit and re-open Excel spreadsheets too many times during screen-sharing sessions.

[#12]

@Dean Gross YES this is driving me mad. I've disabled hardware acceleration on Teams as advised but still this happens whenever I'm on a screen sharing call, presenting OR VIEWING. I can't quite figure out what triggers it to happen, but it's usually when I copy a cell and I tend to have 2+ sheets open and it just stops working properly.

It will start taking about 30 seconds to even move from cell to cell, and I have to shut down excel entirely to get back to normal operation.

[#13]

@Dean Gross This seems to be a commonly reported issue. I've also noticed it reported in the MS Teams bug reporting site. It also occurs with PowerPoint and RDS.

I've found two work arounds, one stop sharing the spreadsheet, minimise the maximise it and then reshare - this works for a little while before it freezes again.
Two, and this one works quite well, is to share the entire desktop that you have Excel open on.
I have raised a support request with MS Premier support, but don't expect much at this stage.

[#14]

@wedwards Sadly this doesn't work for me because this happens when others are sharing, not just when I am.

I don't understand it. But it's killing my ability to work on Teams

[#15]

@James Ward so, let me get this straight. If someone shares, say, an Excel spreadsheet with you during a meeting, your Teams client locks up? If that's the case, that's a first. I've been trolling through numerous forums and the MS Teams Bug reporting site (https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/908686-bug-reports) and haven't come across that issue yet.

[#16]

@wedwards not quite.

Someone will be sharing their desktop, and my Excel will lock up. I don't remember if this was after I had previously been sharing an Excel document in the same session, but I'll take note next time if it's the case.

This is in addition to my Excel locking up when I'm sharing my desktop (I never share just a programme).

[#17]

@Dean Gross 

Hi,

whatever application i use sharing in Team gets frozen and unresponsive after the sharing.

I have tried to share the app or the desktop, the result is the same. It happens 9 times on 10.

For sure for Excel and MS Projects.

Thanks for support 

[#18 · Accepted solution]

All, I've been working with MS Support regarding this issue. From the logs and trace files that I sent through to them, they have determined, basically, that there is a conflict between Excel and Teams. They'll now be working directly with the Office team to work on a resolution. My best guess at this stage is that this issue will now go to the Office and Teams developers to find and implement a solution.

[#19]

@wedwards is there any eta on this? It's making Teams unusable for me currently, as soon as I do anything with an Excel doc (which is every meeting, every day) the whole thing locks up and I give up. Zoom works well though.

[#20]

@James Ward Not yet, I haven't heard anything back from MS Support since Friday (Australia time). I will provide an update here as soon as I get one.