Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Starting in Safe Mode.
If you are having problems with Excel, it could be because of the files and add-ins that are loaded whenever you start Excel. To test this theory, you can start Excel in "safe mode." Here's an easy way to start Excel in safe mode:
First, make sure Excel is not running. If it is, exit the program entirely. Then, display the Search box in Windows (you may need to display the Start menu to do this) or simply click in the Cortana box (if you are using Windows 10), In the box, type the following:
excel.exe /s
When you press Enter, Excel starts, but in doing so it bypasses all the files in the various startup folders (such as XLStart). You know you are in safe mode because the words "Safe Mode" appears in the title bar. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Running in safe mode.
You can use Excel as you normally would, and then exit the program. The next time you start the program—without the safe mode switch—it runs as it normally does.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11632) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Starting in Safe Mode.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
We all expect the keyboard keys to operate as normal, and when they don't, it can be bothersome. Geraldine had such a ...
Discover MoreWhat is a list of data, and how do you create one? Here are some guidelines you may find helpful.
Discover MoreIt seems that more and more people are needing to use Excel to analyze large amounts of data. The success you have in ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-08-01 10:27:41
Martin Yates
Thank you !
2017-06-03 04:59:07
Parag Shah
Sir, also in safe mode key board short cut of Alt+= (Auto sum) not working in OS Windows 10 & MS Office 2016, kindly suggest the possible solutions
2017-04-15 09:51:01
The method displayed in this tip by Mr. Wyatt is probably the easiest way to start Excel in safe mode. However, if you'd rather click things...Press and hold the Ctrl key and double-click the Excel shortcut (or single click if it's in your taskbar, e.g.). You should get a pop-up message confirming that you want to start Excel in safe mode.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments