Like many programs, Microsoft Office’s tools can be extended by third-party add-ons. You can try uninstalling or disabling any you’re aware of. Exactly how you do this will depend on the specific add-on. If you’re not sure, the Installed Apps list we started with is a good place to look.

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• My spreadsheets will still be there no matter what.
• That’s good because that’s what you’ll try next.
• Note that it says "The app’s data will be deleted." This does not include your files.
• If the steps above don’t help, the next step is to uninstall and reinstall Office.

Automatically create a recovery file at set intervals

The installer window changed to an animated display that included what’s shown in Figure 8. If you have any Office applications open, you’ll be asked to close them before the repairs can complete. On my test machine, for example, I had Outlook open. This provoked the request shown in Figure 4 (where, of course, I clicked Continue to close Outlook so repairs could work through to completion).

Step 3: Try the Microsoft SaRA

The Quick Repair option, as shown in Figure 2, is selected by default. That’s good because that’s what Fix email login issues quickly you’ll try next. Note that it says "The app’s data will be deleted." This does not include your files. My spreadsheets will still be there no matter what.

Recover data when the workbook is open in Excel

What a reset does is reset settings, history, and perhaps more that is specific to the configuration of the program. A recovery file of your workbook also helps ensure you'll have access to your data if your workbook is deleted accidentally or if it becomes corrupted. If neither automatic nor manual repair works, there are some recovery methods that might help salvage your data. Once you’ve installed the program, the home screen opens up, as shown in Figure 10. It includes options for Teams, Office, the Outlook desktop client, Outlook on the web, advanced diagnostics, and more. Then it took another 4 minutes and 24 seconds for the (genuine) progress bar shown above to download all the files.

The end of the Office repair road?

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.



So I close Excel, try to open it again without safe mode, and… nothing. Microsoft SaRA is the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. If you’re lucky, when you open your formerly balky or misbehaving Windows app, all will be well. I want comments to be valuable for everyone, including those who come later and take the time to read. If you’re lucky, you’ll find your problem covered, and SaRA will fix it for you.



When complete, a checkmark appears next to the Rest button. Click the Close button, then try your problem Office application again. In my experience, only 1 in 10 Office installations will still fail to work. If yours works, count yourself lucky and get back to your normal routine. A window opens to ask you if you’re ready to commence repairs.