Why Is Excel So Slow on Mac

Factors that cause Excel to run slow on Mac

First, here’s the full list of what can cause your Excel to run slower than required:

1. Low RAM or high CPU usage reduces processing speed
2. Outdated Excel or macOS versions cause performance issues
3. Background apps and add-ins drain system resources
4. Excessive formulas, volatile functions, and large files slow operations
5. Corrupted preferences or cache files impact responsiveness

1. Insufficient system resources

System resource limitations are often the root cause when Excel struggles to perform. Insufficient RAM, high CPU usage, and low disk space create bottlenecks, leading to lagging calculations and slow file openings. Our team suggests that you optimize your system resources to speed up Excel on Mac:

• Check RAM and CPU usage. Open Activity Monitor (by typing Activity Monitor in the Spotlight bar) to track how much memory and processing power Excel consumes. If RAM is constantly full, upgrading may be necessary.
• Close background applications. Running multiple apps simultaneously may bring you some issues, like Microsoft Word keeps crashing on Mac due to resource overload. You need to quit unnecessary programs to free up memory.
• Free up disk space. A nearly full drive slows down performance. Delete unused files or use external storage for large Excel workbooks to maximize your device’s performance.
• Reduce graphical effects. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and disable animations to ease CPU load.
• Upgrade to an SSD. Traditional hard drives slow down data retrieval, so try upgrading to an SSD. It certainly improves Excel’s responsiveness.

2. Excel add-ins and macros

Excel add-ins and macros enhance functionality but can also restrict performance if outdated or poorly optimized. Reducing unnecessary add-ins and streamlining macros can make Excel run faster on Mac. Do the following:

• Review installed add-ins. Open Excel and find the Add-ins tab from the software’s upper menu bar, then disable any add-ins you no longer use.
• Check third-party add-ins. Some add-ins remain active even when Excel is closed. Disable them under Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
• Optimize macros. Inefficient macros slow calculations. Use VBA Editor (Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor) to streamline repetitive processes.
• Enable macro security. In Excel > Preferences > Security, restrict macros to trusted sources to prevent performance-heavy scripts from automatically running.
• Disable automatic recalculation. If macros frequently run, set calculation mode to Manual under Formulas > Calculation Options. This prevents any unnecessary processing.

3. File size and complex workbooks

We've found that large Excel files with complex formulas, multiple sheets, and excessive formatting can significantly slow down your device’s performance. Effectively managing workbook size and structure helps speed up Excel on Mac and prevent delays. Follow our hints for this:

• Limit volatile functions. Reduce the use of NOW, INDIRECT, OFFSET, and other volatile functions that force Excel to constantly recalculate.
• Save files in XLSB format. Unlike standard XLSX files, XLSB efficiently compresses data, reducing file size and improving loading speed.
• Remove unnecessary formatting. Too many conditional formatting rules slow performance. Simplify formatting in Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules.
• Split large workbooks. Instead of one massive file, create linked workbooks to efficiently distribute data processing.
• Use Power Query for data handling. Instead of large pivot tables or VLOOKUPs, Power Query cleans and analyzes data with less strain on Excel.

4. Outdated Excel or macOS versions

Our team has seen many users frustrated by sluggish Excel performance, only to realize they’re using an outdated version. Indeed, running an old version of Excel or macOS can cause unexpected crashes, slow calculations, and compatibility issues that make everyday tasks  frustrating. To prevent such a scenario:

• Check for Excel updates. Open Excel, go to Help > Check for Updates, and install any available updates to improve stability and speed.
• Keep macOS up to date. Head to System Settings > Software Update and install the latest version to ensure better Excel compatibility.
• Enable automatic updates. We recommend turning on auto-updates in Excel Preferences and System Settings so you never miss important improvements.
• Reinstall Excel if needed. If your issues persist, uninstalling and reinstalling Excel can resolve bugs or corrupted files affecting performance.
• Verify system compatibility. Older Macs may struggle with newer software versions. Checking Excel’s system requirements ensures your Mac can handle the latest version without slowing down.

5. Conflicts with other software or processes

We’ve helped many users fix Excel performance issues caused by conflicting software running in the background of your device. Security programs, system utilities, and other Microsoft apps can interfere with Excel’s performance too. Resolve software conflicts this way:

• Close unnecessary apps. Running too many programs at once can overload your system resources. Closing unused applications helps free up memory for Excel.
• Check Activity Monitor. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor to see which apps consume the most CPU and RAM. If another process is using excessive resources, it could be why Excel is running slow.
• Manage startup programs. Some apps automatically launch and continue running in the background when you turn your machine on. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove unnecessary startup programs.
• Adjust security software settings. Overly aggressive antivirus or firewall settings can interfere with Excel. Temporarily turning off security software can help determine if it’s causing performance issues.
• Disable unused Excel add-ins. Some third-party integrations keep running processes in the background, even when Excel is closed. Removing unnecessary add-ins under Excel > Preferences > Add-ins can improve performance.

A note from our experts:

 

Deleting Mac app doesn’t always remove everything—leftover files often remain hidden, taking up valuable space and slowing down performance. That’s why our team recommends using MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller. This completely removes apps along with their leftover files, freeing up extra disk space and preventing unnecessary clutter.

 

Here’s how to scan and uninstall apps with Smart Uninstaller:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Smart Uninstaller from the left sidebar. This feature will help detect all installed apps and any associated files.
2. Click Start Scan to generate a list of removable items. The scan will categorize everything, including applications, widgets, plugins, and leftover files.
3. Review the results and select apps to remove. You can manually select those you no longer need. MacKeeper even highlights unused apps that haven’t been opened in the last six months.
4. Click Remove to uninstall selected apps. Smart Uninstaller will erase them, eliminating all associated files for good.

How to fix slow Excel on Mac

If Excel feels sluggish on your Mac, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Our team has seen this issue countless times, and with the right tweaks, you can get things running smoothly again. Learn how to boost Excel's speed below— whether it’s through system optimizations or workbook adjustments.

1. Optimize system resources

Our team has found that freeing up RAM, closing background apps, and adjusting system resources can significantly improve performance. If your Mac is overloaded, Excel won’t be the only affected app—so do the following to optimize your system:

• Check system resource usage. Open Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities) and sort by CPU and Memory to see which apps are consuming the most resources.
• Close unnecessary applications. Quit any apps running in the background that aren’t essential. Press Command + Option + Escape to bring up the Force Quit Applications window and close any unresponsive programs.
• Free up RAM. Regularly restart your Mac to clear temporary memory. Alternatively, use a memory management tool to clear cached processes.
• Reduce startup programs. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove any applications that don’t need to launch at startup.
• Turn off Microsoft AutoUpdate on Mac. Open Microsoft AutoUpdate and uncheck automatic updates to prevent Excel from slowing down while updates download in the background.

2. Disable unnecessary add-ins and macros

We’ve seen situations where outdated or excessive add-ins cause freezing, crashes, or lagging performance. Disabling anything unnecessary can restore speed and responsiveness. Do the following:

1. Open Excel’s Add-in settings. Launch Excel and select Add-ins from the menu.
2. Review active add-ins. Look at the list of installed add-ins and note which ones you no longer use.
3. Disable unnecessary add-ins. Uncheck any add-ins you want to turn off.
4. Manage Excel macros. Go to Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor and review your macros. Delete or disable any that are no longer needed.
5. Restart Excel. Close and reopen Excel to apply the changes and check if the performance improves.
6. Remove third-party add-ins if needed. If Excel still runs slowly, try uninstalling third-party add-ins completely under Finder > Applications and delete any related preference files.

3. Fixing corrupt or damaged Excel files

Our team has seen users struggle with files that won’t open, take forever to load, or crash mid-use. Recovering or repairing these files can prevent Excel from slowing down unexpectedly. Start doing this step by step:

1. Try opening the file in Safe Mode. Hold Shift while launching Excel and attempt to open the file. This can bypass some corruption issues.
2. Use Excel’s built-in repair tool. Open Excel, go to File > Open, select the corrupted file, click the dropdown next to Open, and choose Open and Repair.
3. Check for file compatibility. If the file was created in an older version of Excel, try saving it in a newer format like XLSX.
4. Recover data manually. Copy and paste the data into a new worksheet to salvage any usable content.

4. Simplify workbooks

Our team has helped many users boost performance by optimizing formulas, breaking down massive files, and reducing excessive formatting. A well-structured workbook runs faster, making calculations and data retrieval smoother. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Reduce unnecessary formulas. Whenever possible, use static values instead of volatile formulas like NOW, INDIRECT, and OFFSET.
2. Use efficient functions. Replace VLOOKUP with INDEX-MATCH, which is faster for large datasets.
3. Minimize conditional formatting. Excessive formatting can cause slowdowns. Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules and remove unnecessary rules.
4. Split large workbooks. Instead of keeping everything in one massive file, separate data into multiple workbooks and use links to reference data where needed.
5. Save files in XLSB format. Binary format files (XLSB) load faster and take up less space than traditional XLSX files.
6. Remove unused rows and columns. Press Command + Shift + Down/Right to select empty areas, then delete them to shrink the file size.

If Excel remains sluggish even after simplifying workbooks, reinstalling the software might help. Many users wondering how to uninstall Microsoft 365 on Mac do so to resolve persistent Excel performance issues.

5. Update Excel and macOS

Running outdated software often entails crashes, compatibility issues, and poor performance. We’ve learned that keeping Excel and macOS up to date is one of the easiest ways to prevent system slowdowns. Proceed with the update process like this:

1. Check for Excel updates. Open Excel, click Help > Check for Updates, and install any available updates. If you don’t see the option, update through the Mac App Store.
2. Update macOS. Go to System Settings > Software Update and install the latest macOS version for improved compatibility and security.
3. Enable automatic updates. In Excel Preferences, turn on Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date to prevent performance issues caused by outdated versions.
4. Restart after updating. Some updates require a system reboot to take full effect, so restarting your Mac ensures all changes are applied correctly.
5. Check compatibility. If an update causes unexpected slowdowns, verify that your Mac meets the latest Excel system requirements.

Conclusion

If Excel has been crawling at a snail’s pace on your Mac, don’t worry, you’re not alone in facing this issue. We’ve covered everything from system optimizations to workbook cleanups, showing how freeing up RAM, disabling sluggish add-ins, repairing corrupt files, and keeping everything updated can make a world of difference. Excel doesn’t have to feel like it’s stuck in slow motion—small tweaks can bring it back to life.

But here’s the catch—uninstalling unnecessary software manually doesn’t always do the trick. That’s where MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller comes in. We’ve seen countless users struggle with hidden leftovers from uninstalled apps clogging their Macs. A quick scan and removal could be the missing piece of the puzzle to getting Excel running smoothly again.