Have you ever experienced the frustration of working on a large Excel spreadsheet, only to have Excel crash and display the message “Excel ran out of resources”? This message can be caused by several factors, and it can be a real pain to figure out which one is the culprit. In this post, we’ll provide you with a list of possible causes, explain how to check if those causes are the problem, and share some best practices to prevent this annoying issue.
Possible Causes of Excel Running Out of Resources
- Insufficient memory: Excel requires a lot of memory to handle large spreadsheets, and if your computer doesn’t have enough memory, Excel may crash. To check if this is the cause, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and go to the Performance tab. Check the Memory section and see if the percentage of memory in use is close to 100%. If it is, you may need to upgrade your computer’s memory or close other programs to free up memory.
- Outdated Excel version: If you’re using an outdated version of Excel, it may not be optimized to handle large spreadsheets. To check if this is the cause, go to File > Account > Update Options and select Update Now. If there are any updates available, install them and see if the issue is resolved.
- Add-ins and macros: If you have too many add-ins or macros running in Excel, it can slow down the program and cause it to crash. To check if this is the cause, disable all add-ins and macros and see if the issue is resolved. If it is, re-enable them one at a time to determine which one is causing the problem.
- Corrupted workbook: If the workbook you’re working on is corrupted, it can cause Excel to crash. To check if this is the cause, open a new workbook and copy the data from the old workbook into it. If the issue is resolved, the old workbook was likely corrupted.
32-bit vs. 64-bit Excel: What’s the Difference?
One factor that can affect Excel’s performance is whether you’re using the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the program. The 64-bit version can handle larger spreadsheets and more memory than the 32-bit version. However, not all add-ins and macros are compatible with the 64-bit version, so it’s important to check if your add-ins and macros are compatible before switching to the 64-bit version.
Best Practices to Prevent Excel from Running Out of Resources
- Keep your Excel version up to date: Make sure you’re using the latest version of Excel and install any updates as soon as they become available.
- Close other programs: Close any other programs that you’re not using to free up memory for Excel.
- Use 64-bit Excel if possible: If you’re working with large spreadsheets, consider using the 64-bit version of Excel if your add-ins and macros are compatible.
- Use efficient formulas: Avoid using inefficient formulas that require a lot of processing power, such as array formulas and volatile functions.
- Limit formatting: Limit the use of formatting features that require a lot of memory, such as conditional formatting and custom number formats.
Conclusion
Excel running out of resources can be a frustrating issue to deal with, but with the tips we’ve shared in this post, you should be able to troubleshoot and prevent the problem. Remember to check for insufficient memory, outdated Excel versions, add-ins and macros, and corrupted workbooks. If all else fails, try using the 64-bit version of Excel and follow our best practices to keep your spreadsheets running smoothly. Happy Excel-ing!
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