How to Solve Excel Stuck at Opening File 0% Issue [8 Fixes]

If you're encountering the "Excel stuck at opening file 0% issue," don't panic. In this guide, we'll walk you through some of the most effective fixes to resolve this issue. 

Whether you're facing a glitch, compatibility problems, or other technical snags, we've got you covered with step-by-step solutions to get your Excel files to open smoothly and swiftly. 

Why My Excel Stuck at Opening File 0%

The "Excel stuck at opening file 0%" error can arise from issues like: 

• 📃File Corruption: This problem commonly occurs when attempting to open a damaged or corrupt worksheet in MS Excel containing missing components, such as a broken header.
• 🗂️Add-in Issues: Occasionally, add-ins sourced from third-party platforms might cause your MS Excel cannot open the file.
• ⚡Application Glitch: MS Excel or the entire MS Office Suite may experience issues, ranging from a problematic update to corruption within the application.
• 💼Unsupported Document Format: The error can also manifest if you try to open files in formats not supported by Excel, aside from the standard XLS and XLSX formats.

Fix 1. Repair Corrupted Excel with Document Repair Software 

EaseUS Fixo Document Repair is useful for users struggling with corrupted Excel files. 

When you're faced with scenarios such as inaccessible or Corrupted Excel files, unexpected closing of a program, or error messages while opening a file, EaseUS Fixo comes to the rescue. 

This software offers powerful and dependable repair features designed to salvage and restore corrupt Excel files to their normal state. 

Now, let's look at the steps to apply this tool for Excel file repair effectively.

Step 1. Download and launch Fixo on your PC or laptop. Choose "File Repair" to repair corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and others. Click "Add Files" to select corrupted documents.

Step 2. To repair multiple files at once, click the "Repair All" button. If you want to repair a single document, move your pointer to the target file and choose "Repair". You can also preview the documents by clicking the eye icon.

Step 3. Click "Save" to save a selected document. Select "Save All" to save all the repaired files. Choose "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

If you found this information helpful, share it with others facing a similar Excel file repair challenge. Spread the knowledge and help others get their Excel files back on track by sharing this page on your favorite social media platforms.

Fix 2. Reload the Worksheet on the Website 

If your desktop Excel application is experiencing difficulties, an alternative is to utilize the web version of Excel. Microsoft offers a freely accessible web-based tool accessible through Office.com. To do this:

Step 1. Visit "Office.com" to access the web version of Excel, a free web-based tool by MS Office.

Step 2. Log in using your Microsoft account or create one if you don't have it.

Step 3. Set up MS Excel on the web.

Step 4. Navigate to "File." 

Step 5. Click "Open" to upload and repair your XLS/XLSX files online.

Keep in mind that while this approach doesn't offer a permanent fix, it helps determine if the issue is in the Excel file or the installed desktop application.

Fix 3. Open Excel in Safe Mode 

To determine whether an incompatible or malfunctioning add-in or setting triggers the issue, launch MS Excel in safe mode and then access the worksheet through the "File" menu.

Here are some quick steps to follow:

Step 1. Press "Windows+R" on your keyboard and input excel.exe /safe.

Step 2. Press "Enter" or click "OK" to launch MS Excel in safe mode.

Step 3. Navigate to "File" 

Step 4. Click "Open" and select the Excel file you wish to open.

Fix 4. Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration 

This specific feature in Excel is intended to enhance the display of animations and graphic components within the spreadsheet.  However, it often doesn't significantly improve performance and can even affect Excel's overall speed. It's advisable to turn off this feature.

Here's how you can do it in Excel:

Step 1. Go to "File" > "Options" > "Advanced."

Step 2. Under "Display," tick the box for "Disable hardware graphics acceleration."

Step 3. Click "OK" to save the updated settings.

Fix 5. Repair with Open and Repair Feature of Excel 

Any logical errors within your document can prevent your document from loading in Excel. The tool provides a built-in repair option for minor issues in your Excel files. Here's how to use it to open and repair your files:

Step 1. First, create a new Excel file and head to "File." 

Step 2. Tap "Open." and Find the Excel file that is not opening.

Step 3. Select your file and hit "Open" from the options that appear. Choose "Open and Repair."

Fix 6. Close Excel from Running in the Background 

To close Excel in your device:

Step 1. Press the "Esc" key to cancel any ongoing commands.

Step 2. Hit "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" on your Windows PC to open the "Task Manager."

Step 3. Within the "Task Manager" window, locate the "MS Excel app."

Step 4. Tap on the "End Task" button to terminate Excel's processing.

After that, wait a moment and attempt to reopen your file once Excel no longer runs in the background.

Fix 7. Get Rid of Third-party Add-ins 

Excel add-ins enhance the capabilities of the application, allowing you to incorporate features like additional charts, sheet bookmarks, or a random number generator that are not initially available in Excel. 

On the other hand, if an add-in is corrupted or outdated, it can prevent Excel from displaying a document's content and make the Excel file run slowly. In such situations, disabling Excel add-ins is recommended.

Here are the steps to disable add-ins in Excel:

Step 1. Open "Excel" and navigate to "File" > "Options."

Step 2. Select "Add-ins" from the menu on the left.

Step 3. Choose Excel Add-ins from the "Manage" drop-down menu and hit "Go." Excel will present a list of installed add-ins.

Step 4. To deactivate an add-in, uncheck it and tap the "OK" button.

Fix 8. Update Microsoft Excel 

If your Excel version is outdated, consider upgrading to the program's latest version. Be sure to follow these steps to achieve this:

Step 1. Access the "File" menu and choose "Account."

Step 2. Next, opt for "Update Options."

Step 3. Choose "Update Now" to initiate the Excel update within this menu.

Conclusion 

Excel is a robust tool for data management, complex calculations, and chart creation. Despite its capabilities, you may encounter occasional frustrating issues. 

If you're facing problems like Excel freezing or hanging during workbook opening, multiple troubleshooting methods exist to help address these concerns. 

These include getting rid of third-party add-ins, repairing Excel with the Open and Repair feature, and using repair software like EaseUS Fixo Document Repair.

The EaseUS Fixo Document Repair tool will help you fix corruption issues in your documents.

Excel Stuck at Opening File 0% FAQs 

Below are some commonly asked questions that will give you more information on Excel stuck at opening file 0%. 

1. Why is my Excel file stuck when I open it?

If the file size is too large, it may take longer to open, potentially leading to Excel becoming unresponsive. Additionally, having many programs run simultaneously can overload your system, affecting Excel's performance and causing it to hang.

2. Why is my Excel file 0 bytes?

There are various reasons that can lead to an Excel file displaying a file size of 0 bytes. Here are some typical reasons:

• Partition damage
• Sudden system crash or unexpected PC shutdown
• File system corruption, including a corrupted index table or other file corruption
• The existence of bad sectors on the storage device
• Malicious infection of the software and attack by the 0KB file virus 
• Incomplete file operations such as transferring, downloading, uploading, or receiving

3. Why is Excel not responding when opening files?

Excel may become unresponsive due to various factors when attempting to open a workbook. Among the main causes are:

• File Corruption
• Runtime error on Excel
• Extensive File Size
• Use of an Outdated Excel Version

4. Why does Excel take forever to open?

Excel might experience prolonged opening times if a workbook contains an excessive number of cell styles, shapes, or extensive formatting. To view the cell styles within an Excel workbook, head to the "Home" tab and tap the downward arrow in the lower-right corner of the "Styles" group.