Excel Not Responding How to Save | 4 Fixes

MS Excel is one of the extraordinary tools to gather, visualize, assess, and share data throughout Windows PC and Mac. Unluckily, there might be some instances that it may stop working, mainly while saving a spreadsheet. If the Excel is not responding, how to save it? The crucial reasons for the Excel not responding issue happen when there's insufficient space to save an Excel file, several apps are running, and your PC is too sluggish to work efficiently. In that case, you should wait for approximately 5 seconds to 5 minutes to notice if the program works typically. If you would like to rule out this error, these are the top 4 fixes.

Method 1. Quit Excel and Restore Unsaved Excel Spreadsheets with Recovery Software

It can be annoying when an unsaved Excel file disappears and is unrecoverable, mainly if you've worked on it for an extended period. But there is still optimism: third-party data recovery software can search your disk drive for accidentally erased Excel files and, if successful, restore them.

This way, you might be capable of recovering XLSX/XLS files. The most frequently utilized data recovery software on the market is EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro.

The major highlights of this data retrieval software are the following:

• It upholds a wide array of file types and can recover unsaved Excel files, retrieving photos, documents, videos, and more.
• It provides numerous features that make it a precious tool for those who need to recover deleted files.
• This software includes a preview option to see recovered files before saving them.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a top-tier choice for those who need to retrieve deleted or unsaved Excel files. Download this tool now and check the detailed tutorial on unsaved Excel recovery:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on the computer. Choose the disk where you lost the unsaved files, and click "Scan".

Step 2. You'll see the Path and Type tab on the left side,  click "Type" and "Unsaved Files". You can double-click the folder to open it or click "Open". This unsaved file recovery software will help you recover unsaved Word, Excel, PPT, and other files with ease.

Step 3. Choose target files and click the "Preview" button. Then, click "Recover" to restore these unsaved files. Be careful not to revert the recovered files to the original location, as this may overwrite the file.

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Method 2. Wait for the Microsoft Excel to Respond Again

Waiting for a minimum of 5 seconds or up to 5 minutes will allow you to find out if the application can function regularly as long as the computer is still operational and responding. Generally speaking, the spinning wheel indicates that Excel or the system is working on a challenging task that requires more time.

Most of the time, it only takes a few seconds to resume working when you encounter issues like Outlook not responding or Excel/Word not working; if you are stuck waiting longer than five minutes, you should cancel the program and attempt to save your document before expecting it to function well on its own.

Method 3. Try to Save Excel Files with Saving Shortcut

In Excel, there are plenty of methods to save Excel files. But one of the best methods to save the files is with saving shortcuts. Finding the File option and saving the workbook could take some time. You may save your Excel file in one step. If you want to save your work, press the keyboard shortcut key.

Step 1. Hit the keyboard shortcut key "Ctrl + S" after working on the Excel Workbook.

Step 2. It will launch the "Save this File" dialog box, where you can change the name and state the file location, and hit the "save" option.

Step 3. From that point on, you could simply replace the current file whenever you wanted to save by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S.

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Method 4. Force Quit Excel and Recover Unsaved Excel Files

When you discover that Excel refuses to respond when you try to save, you must take the necessary steps. You must retrieve the previously saved spreadsheet first, as losing the data permanently will make matters terrible. Carefully follow these steps if you wish to force quit Excel on Mac & Windows and recover Excel files not saved:

✨For macOS:

Step 1. Hit the "Apple" symbol from the menu bar.

Step 2. Opt for "Force Quit".

Step 3. Select "Excel" and hit "Force Quit".

✨For Windows:

Step 1. Launch "Task Manager" by pressing "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" on the keyboard.

Step 2. Find "MS Excel" in the list of open apps and select it.

Step 3. Hit the "End Task" to force quit Excel.

You can enable Autosave in Excel with these steps:

Step 1. Hit the "File" tab.

Step 2. Select "Options". If you cannot find it, choose "More..." > "Options".

Step 3. Select the "Save" option on the left in the "Excel options" dialog box.

Step 4. Tick the box of "Save AutoRecover information every." Although the value is set to 10 minutes by default, you may opt for a lower or higher value if you intend to.

Step 5. Select "OK".

Make sure that Excel's AutoRecover feature is activated before attempting this additional useful solution for Excel not responding issues. That way, you are able to retrieve any kind of Excel file. Go through the steps below:

Step 1. In case you're using Windows 7/8/10/11, a new file on Excel must be opened.

Step 2. Navigate to "File"> "Open"> "Recent".

Step 3. Verify the Excel document that is currently used. Find the file that wasn't saved during the mishap.

Step 4. Find "Recover unsaved workbooks" and click it. Now, wait for a while until the program retrieves any crashed Excel file.

Step 5. You will see a popup window and then be able to access the corrupted Excel document. All you have to do to save the file is click "Save As".

Bonus Tips: How to Avoid Excel Not Responding

You can avoid Excel not responding to errors with the below-mentioned fixes:

✅Update Excel

In some instances, defects and other software issues might lead to the Excel not responding issue. The Microsoft Excel not responding error can then be fixed by updating the Excel application. You can modify Microsoft Excel by following the instructions below.

Step 1. Navigate to the "File" tab.

Step 2. Opt for "Account".

Step 3. Expand "update" options.

Step 4. Select "Update now".

✅Search and turn off antivirus

For gadget security, antivirus software is essential. But if your antivirus program interferes with Microsoft Office programs, like Excel, it can cause Excel to freeze or stop functioning. Therefore, you need to disable it and reopen the Excel document.

✅Repair corrupted MS Office

Another possible source of the "Excel is not responding" issue is a corrupted or broken Microsoft Office product. By fixing the Microsoft Office documents, you may remedy this error.

✅Install the newest Windows and Office upgrades

In addition, if Windows and Microsoft Office are not upgraded, this issue might arise. Obtain the most current updates for Microsoft Office and Windows as a result.

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The Bottom Line

When performing complicated computations with a sizable dataset, Excel users frequently need to fix the Excel not responding to how to save their work. We've attempted to clarify in this post how to back up your work and prevent Excel from not functioning. Hopefully, the problem can be fixed if you try each of these techniques individually. If you have lost data, installing the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is important.

Excel Not Responding When Saving FAQs

Go through these FAQs below to understand the topic better:

1. What should I do when Excel is not responding?

If the Excel isn't responding, you should consider any of the methods above to fix this error. We have mentioned 4 methods in this article:

• Recover unsaved Excel with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
• Wait for Excel to respond again
• Use Ctrl+S shortcut to save
• Recover unsaved files in MS Excel

2. Is it possible to recover unsaved Excel files?

To retrieve unsaved Excel files, you need to navigate to "File"> "Info"> "Manage Document"> "Recover Unsaved Workbooks" in Excel.

3. Where are AutoRecover Excel files saved?

Select Info from the left-hand pane after selecting the FILE tab. All of your document's automatically saved versions are visible adjacent to the Manage Versions option.

4. Why does Microsoft Excel not respond when saving?

Why does Microsoft Excel not respond when saving? Excel may cease functioning if you attempt to do other tasks while it's being used. Wait for the current task to be completed before performing any further actions. Go to the next thing on the list if a different procedure isn't using Excel.