To repair Excel on Windows, you'll use the Windows Settings to initiate a repair process that fixes issues within the Microsoft Office suite. This will repair the entire Office suite, even if the problem is only with Excel. Here's how:
Steps to Repair Excel:
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Access Installed Apps: Right-click the Start button (usually located in the lower-left corner of your screen) and select Installed apps from the pop-up menu.
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Locate Microsoft Office: Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find your version of Microsoft Office (e.g., "Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise," "Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019"). The name may vary depending on your specific installation.
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Initiate Modification:
- Click the ellipses (...) associated with your Microsoft Office installation.
- Select Modify.
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Choose a Repair Option:
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A window will appear asking "How would you like to repair your Office programs?".
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Choose between Quick Repair and Online Repair.
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Quick Repair: This option is faster and attempts to fix common issues without requiring an internet connection. It's a good first step.
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Online Repair: This option takes longer as it downloads files from the internet to replace potentially corrupted files. Choose this if Quick Repair doesn't resolve the problem.
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Start the Repair: Click Repair to begin the selected repair process. Follow any on-screen prompts.
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Restart Your Computer (if prompted): After the repair is complete, you might be prompted to restart your computer. Do so to ensure all changes are applied.
Important Considerations:
- Administrative Privileges: You might need administrative privileges to perform the repair. If prompted, enter your administrator password or grant permission.
- Internet Connection: An Online Repair requires a stable internet connection.
- Repairing the Entire Suite: Remember that these steps repair the entire Microsoft Office suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and other applications. You cannot repair Excel in isolation using this method.
- Alternative Method (Control Panel): While the Start menu method is more direct, you can sometimes also access repair options through the Control Panel (Programs and Features), although this is becoming less common in newer Windows versions.
By following these steps, you should be able to repair Excel and resolve any issues you're experiencing. If the problem persists after attempting both repair options, you might consider uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office.
