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To open Excel in Safe Mode on Windows, hold Ctrl while you double-click the Excel shortcut, then confirm the prompt. Or press Windows+R, enter excel /safe, and select OK. This starts Excel with reduced functionality; it does not start Windows in Safe Mode.
Open Excel in Safe Mode
These methods apply to Microsoft 365 and Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 on Windows. Microsoft describes them as alternative ways to start Excel in the same mode, rather than methods with different troubleshooting effects.
Method 1: Hold Ctrl while opening Excel
- Find the Excel shortcut in the Start menu, on the desktop, or on the taskbar.
- Hold down Ctrl and double-click the shortcut.
- When Excel asks whether you want to start in Safe Mode, select Yes.
Method 2: Use the Run dialog
- Press Windows+R. You can also right-click Start and choose Run.
- Type
excel /safe, including the space before/safe. - Select OK.
Microsoft’s instructions for both launch methods are in Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC.
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Check Excel’s title bar for wording such as Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode). If the title bar does not indicate Safe Mode, close Excel and try one of the launch methods again. Microsoft explains the title-bar check in its troubleshooting article, I get a ‘stopped working’ error when I start Office applications on my PC.
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What Excel Safe Mode changes
Safe Mode starts Excel with some features and settings bypassed. Among other things, it bypasses alternative startup locations, changed toolbars, Excel startup folders, Excel add-ins, and most COM add-ins. That makes it useful for checking whether startup configuration or an add-in is involved in a crash or hang. It is a diagnostic step, not a repair, and it does not by itself establish that a workbook is damaged.
Microsoft also lists restrictions such as recovered documents not opening automatically, additional features and programs not loading automatically, and preferences not being saved. Some restrictions listed for Office Safe Mode may not apply to every Office application. See Microsoft’s guidance on Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working for details and related troubleshooting.
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If Excel opens in Safe Mode, check add-ins
If Excel works in Safe Mode but has trouble starting normally, an add-in or startup setting may be involved. Disable add-ins and restart Excel normally to see whether the problem returns.
- In Excel, select File > Options > Add-ins.
- At the bottom of the window, use the Manage list to select an add-in type, such as Excel Add-ins or COM Add-ins, then select Go.
- Clear the checkbox for an add-in and select OK.
- Close Excel and start it normally. Check whether the original problem occurs.
For a more precise diagnosis, disable one add-in at a time and retest. If the problem returns after enabling a particular add-in, investigate that add-in or ask its publisher whether an updated version is available. Microsoft’s startup troubleshooting guidance also covers isolating add-ins.
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If Excel will not start in Safe Mode
If Excel fails to start even with Safe Mode, that result alone does not show that an add-in is responsible or that the workbook is corrupt. Continue with other Office troubleshooting, such as installing available Office updates or repairing Office. Microsoft lists these options in its guidance for Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working.
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Close Excel, then start it again normally from its shortcut or the Start menu. It should open in normal mode unless the startup problem is still present.
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