Excel on iPad glitching/keeps freezing

Question

Excel on iPad glitching/keeps freezing

missytee 55

Hi everyone, I've noticed after the recent october updates to the microsoft office apps, my excel has been very glitchy, I sometimes cannot open workbooks & then once I do manage to open the interface freezes & can't click cells or switch between tabs.

Patrick Kelly 10 Reputation points

2025-10-18T00:27:59.3+00:00

I have had the same issue. I have space on my phone, my files are not complex, and all the other suggested issues. I am not sure what the issue is
Wendy P 5 Reputation points

2025-10-18T06:40:14.7133333+00:00

It’s driving me nuts. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling but the same problem occurs.
JCL 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T07:21:10.74+00:00

I’ve had exactly the same issue since the recent Oct25 updates too!

Cant click on any cell, can’t change worksheet! It’s completely unusable since the update!!!

Microsoft please, please issue an update to fix these bugs!!!!
MSToTheMoon 175 Reputation points

2025-10-18T14:14:28.14+00:00

Try this:

Disable wifi (or toggle on airplane mode) when it freezes and then enable it again.

After doing this the app works fine until I restart it (Excel application?) again.

Credit can be found in:

https://free.blessedness.top/en-gb/answers/questions/5589186/excel-word-freezes-on-iphone-ios-26-and-ipad-ipado

Answer accepted by question author

1 additional answer

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Patrick Kelly 10 Reputation points

2025-10-18T00:27:59.3+00:00

I have had the same issue. I have space on my phone, my files are not complex, and all the other suggested issues. I am not sure what the issue is
Wendy P 5 Reputation points

2025-10-18T06:40:14.7133333+00:00

It’s driving me nuts. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling but the same problem occurs.
JCL 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T07:21:10.74+00:00

I’ve had exactly the same issue since the recent Oct25 updates too!

Cant click on any cell, can’t change worksheet! It’s completely unusable since the update!!!

Microsoft please, please issue an update to fix these bugs!!!!
MSToTheMoon 175 Reputation points

2025-10-18T14:14:28.14+00:00

Try this:

Disable wifi (or toggle on airplane mode) when it freezes and then enable it again.

After doing this the app works fine until I restart it (Excel application?) again.

Credit can be found in:

https://free.blessedness.top/en-gb/answers/questions/5589186/excel-word-freezes-on-iphone-ios-26-and-ipad-ipado

Answer 1

JMRI SCHLOBS 80

Hey Missytee, you're definitely not alone — a lot of people have been seeing similar issues with Excel on iPads after the October update. It looks like something in the latest version caused performance glitches and freezing, especially when opening or editing files.

A few things you can try for now:

Force close the app and reopen it.

Restart your iPad — sometimes that clears temporary bugs.

Make sure both iOS and Excel are fully updated, since Microsoft usually pushes quick fixes after reports like this.

If it’s still freezing, try deleting and reinstalling Excel (your files will still be safe if they’re saved to OneDrive or iCloud).

Hopefully Microsoft rolls out a patch soon — this seems to be happening to multiple users after the latest update.

Nancy Tersigni 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T11:33:45.6133333+00:00

Oh my God, I hope you’re right. This is absolutely awful. I’ve tried all your suggestions, but unfortunately they have not worked for me. Hoping for that update soon!
Teddy Alexander 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T14:21:27.03+00:00

I deleted and reinstalled Excel but the problem continued. I then powered off my iPad and restarted it and Excel is working again.

I’m using a 9th generation iPad running iPadOS 18.7.1

Answer 2

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Excel on iPad glitching/keeps freezing

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