How to Fix “Not enough memory to run Microsoft Excel” Error in Windows

Although Microsoft is constantly improving its services, applications like Excel can still occasionally encounter errors and crashes. For example, the "Not enough memory to run Microsoft Excel" error in Windows 10 and 11 prevents users from launching the application and opening any spreadsheets. Here's how to fix the "Not enough memory to run Microsoft Excel" error in Windows.

Hint: Do you need to? Add a drop-down list in your Excel workbookWe show you how.

Initial considerations

Users may encounter this error when there isn't enough accessible memory to run the program. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including running large files and antivirus software interfering with other programs, including Excel. For this reason, we recommend first opening a smaller file (less than 2 GB) and seeing if that works.

At the same time, also go to your antivirus settings and disable it for a short period of time. This may resolve the issue you're experiencing.

If this does not happen, make sure to Install all pending Windows updates for your computer.Before trying additional methods, update your computer's operating system to the latest version. If the error persists, continue with the following fixes.

1. Close unnecessary background applications.

Background apps often start automatically and consume system resources like RAM and processing power, slowing down your device's performance and causing other apps to misbehave. To fix this:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select "Task Manager".
2. Click "more details" On the next page to expand the window.

3. Go to the tab Operations And look for unnecessary applications.
4. Right-click on each one and press "Finish the job".

2. Disable add-ons

Add-ins are programs that can be attached to Excel to provide additional functionality. They can also be the cause of system memory overload and cause errors and crashes in the program. If you have a lot of add-ins installed in Excel, it may be a good idea to disable them. Note that in some cases, Excel will not allow the user to apply these changes unless the application is executed in Safe Mode.

1. Click on the menu START YOUR And type Microsoft Excel
2. Press and hold Ctrl . key On the keyboard and click on "to open".
3. Click "Yeah" To confirm opening Excel in safe mode.

4. Go to File -> Options.

5. Click "extra jobs" In the menu on the left side.

6. From the drop-down menu next to "Administration" , Locate COM Add-ins , Then click "transmission".
7. Check the additional function(s) – in this case, "inquiry" - And specify "OK" To turn it off.

Good to know: You can easily Convert PDF to ExcelHere's how.

3. Run Microsoft Excel as an administrator.

Windows administrative rights are privileges that allow users to perform certain tasks or access certain features in Windows. Without them, users face limitations in what they can do.

1. Click on the Start menu and type Microsoft Excel.
2. Right-click on Excel and select "Run as administrator".

3. Check if you can run Excel without any Problems right Now.

4. Modify the Trust Center settings

If the error appears while trying to launch Excel files from an email client, you may want to check the settings under the Trust Center.

1. Open Microsoft Excel on your computer.
2. Click "a file" From the ribbon menu, select "Options" from the left menu.

3. Go to the tab Documentation Center and click Trust Center Settings.

4. Go to the tab Protected View , uncheck all options, and then click "OK".

5. Configure dynamic data exchange settings

Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a mechanism for Windows applications to share data and interact with each other. DDE misconfigurations can be another cause of an error. “Not Enough Memory to Run Microsoft Excel” in Windows.

1. Open Microsoft Excel and go to Options
2. Go to the tab "Advanced Options" Uncheck the option “Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)” From the section "general".

Tip: Want to update your system on your schedule? Here's how. Pause Windows Updates.

6. Update Microsoft Office

Updates typically improve the usability and stability of a program. If you're experiencing this issue, you'll want to make sure Office (and the Excel extension) is up to date.

1. Click on the Start menu, and type "Microsoft Store" , then press Enter.
2. Open "the library" On the next page.

3. Search for “Office” From the menu, click on "to update".

    4. Alternatively, you can update Excel from the application itself. Select "a file" From the ribbon menu, click on "the account".

5. Click the button Update options".

6. Select Update now.

7. Repair Microsoft Office

Microsoft's built-in software repair tools are straightforward, straightforward, and highly effective. If updating Excel doesn't resolve the issue, you can perform a software repair via Windows Settings.

1. First, press Windows + I To open Settings on your computer.
2. Locate "Applications" From the right menu, open “Applications and Features”.

3. Search for Microsoft Office In the menu, click on the three dots next to it. Press "amendment".

4. Select "Repair" From the next window.

8. Deactivate Cortana

Oddly enough, issues with Cortana can also have repercussions for other applications, such as Excel. Try deactivating the virtual assistant and see if that fixes things.

1. Go to Settings -> Apps -> Apps & features.

2. Search for Cortana In the menu, click on the three-dot drop-down menu and select "Advanced Options".

3. Go to the toggle button under “Works when logged in” And turn it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I allow Excel to use more memory?
answer. You can enable Excel to use more memory by running each large file on a separate instance. Hover your mouse over the Excel icon in the taskbar, hold down the Alt key on your keyboard, and then press the scroll wheel on your mouse. Then, open your Excel file.

Q2. What should you do if you receive the error message “Disk is full” in Excel?
answer. If you encounter such an error, you may want to start freeing up space on your primary hard drive or copying the Excel file to an external hard drive before opening it.

Q3. How can I fix high memory usage on Windows?
answer. To fix high memory usage, you can close unnecessary running applications, disable startup programs, and increase physical memory.