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My Excel 2008 literally freezes after one click into a cell. I updated my Mac and I updated my Microsoft Office Software.

Please Please Please Help! I really need to get it to work :(

-Sarabeth

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by sophieharris

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A short expert summary tied to the thread: reported a persistent freeze and correctly asked about the version — exact Excel and macOS build numbers matter because fixes depend on compatibility. A practical triage path is to determine whether the problem is (A) one workbook, (B) your user account, or (C) the app/system itself; testing a brand‑new blank workbook and opening Excel while logged into a clean macOS user account quickly separates those cases. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the freeze looks account‑specific, reset Excel/Office preferences next. Quit Office, then move or rename Excel and Office preference files so the app creates fresh defaults on launch (this includes Excel preference .plist files and the Excel toolbars/settings files). Corrupted prefs and toolbar files are a frequent root cause of hangs on older Mac Office builds. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the problem persists system‑wide, rule out third‑party conflicts and add‑ins: start macOS in Safe Mode (Safe Boot disables login items and nonessential extensions) and see whether Excel still hangs; also disable any Excel add‑ins and common background helpers (clipboard managers, text‑expanders, utilities that hook the keyboard). Those items often trigger freezes and safe‑mode/login‑item testing isolates them. (support.apple.com)

If none of the above helps, fully remove and then reinstall Office (Microsoft documents steps for a complete uninstall before reinstalling) and test the problematic workbook on another machine to rule out file corruption — Excel for Mac will sometimes run its own repair on open, but trying the file on a different system is an effective way to confirm whether the workbook itself is the issue. If posting follow‑ups in the thread, include the exact values shown in About Excel and About This Mac so responders can match fixes to your specific builds. (support.microsoft.com)

Member Avatar for sariberri

Version 12.2.8

Member Avatar for sophieharris

which version do you have?

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