Quick Fixes for Common Microsoft Word and Excel Issues

Having trouble with Microsoft Word or Excel? Here are quick and simple fixes for the most common problems, no tech jargon required.

Microsoft Word and Excel are the unsung heroes of small business operations. But when they start acting up Word freezing mid-contract or Excel throwing cryptic formula errors, productivity comes to a screeching halt and stress levels spike. In this blog, we’ll walk you through quick, non-technical solutions for the most common Microsoft 365 issues we see in the field. Whether you work in a medical practice, real estate agency, or accounting office, these tips can save you time, frustration, and a few gray hairs.

Word Freezes or Crashes Unexpectedly

One of the most frustrating Microsoft Word and Excel issues is when Word suddenly stops responding or crashes altogether. This is often caused by outdated add-ins, corrupt templates, or an Office installation that’s due for an update.

 Quick Fix:

• Start Word in Safe Mode: Hold down Ctrl while clicking the Word shortcut.

• Disable unnecessary add-ins: Go to File > Options > Add-ins, click Go at the bottom, and uncheck anything not essential.

• Update Office: Head to File > Account > Update Options to ensure you have the latest version.

Word Formatting Looks Off or Won’t Stick

Another classic Microsoft Word and Excel problem is broken or inconsistent formatting in Word. Maybe your headers shift randomly, line spacing changes unexpectedly, or styles disappear altogether.

Quick Fix:

• Clear weird formatting: Select the text and press Ctrl + Spacebar, or use the Clear Formatting button on the Home tab.

• Use styles properly: Instead of applying manual formatting, use the preset styles for titles, headings, and paragraphs.

• Paste as plain text: When copying from another document or the web, use Ctrl + Shift + V or right-click and choose Paste as plain text.

Excel Formulas Aren’t Calculating Correctly

Excel issues often revolve around formulas. Does your formula show up as plain text? Are you seeing a #VALUE error? Or is the result just plain wrong?

Quick Fix:

• Check the cell format: Right-click the cell, go to Format Cells, and make sure it’s set to General or Number, not Text.

• Hit F2 + Enter: This forces Excel to recalculate the cell.

• Use formula auditing: Go to the Formulas tab and try Trace Precedents or Evaluate Formula to debug issues.

Excel Runs Slowly or Freezes

Another common Microsoft Word and Excel issue is sluggish performance in Excel. Large data sets, too many tabs, or excessive conditional formatting can all slow things down.

Quick Fix:

• Remove unnecessary formatting: Select everything with Ctrl + A, then click Clear > Clear Formats on the Home tab.

• Use “Clear All” carefully: This wipes data and formatting—only use if starting fresh.

• Turn off animations: Go to Control Panel > Accessibility > Adjust visual effects, and disable animations for a performance boost.

  
  

Pro tip: If you're working with large files, consider splitting them into smaller, more manageable sheets.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Struggle with Microsoft 365

Most Microsoft Word and Excel issues are surprisingly easy to fix if you know where to look... Sometimes it just takes a few clicks. Other times, it's about understanding what’s happening behind the scenes.

The best part? You don’t need to be a tech expert to keep things running smoothly. With a little guidance and the right approach, you can save hours of frustration and get back to what you do best.

If these situations sound familiar and you're tired of them interrupting your workflow, a second set of eyes might be all you need someone to guide you or show you a simpler way to handle them.

What’s Next?

At Cloudigan, we help small businesses like yours tackle these kinds of Microsoft 365 issues every day. But more importantly we don’t just fix things, we explain them in plain language so you feel confident managing them next time.

Want to get more out of Microsoft 365? We can walk you through practical options, suggest improvements, or help pinpoint what’s holding things back. No pressure. No hassle.

👉 Let’s chat whenever it suits you