Excel 2016 stuck on opening 100% if it contains external links

Question

On our companies computers, all the new laptops come with windows 11 and this problem only occurs on these new computers.

When people are trying to open files that have workbook links it will just get stuck opening the file at 100% and nothing will happen. I have disabled literally every security check in Trust Center, unchecked "update workbook links" under general, tried different combinations in the Trust Center.

If i just open blank excel itself, i will be able to open said files, the warning will popup about workbook links updating and i can choose to never show that notification for THAT file only (data>edit links), but thats not a solution, because there are hundreds of files that people use in my company daily.

I tried disabling all internal security, antiviruses, add file paths to trusted locations, yet no success, please help.

Answer 1

Hi @AP951357

Could you please tell us which version of Windows 11 and Office 2016 you are using?

• You may enter “winver” in Run dialog, check whether it is Windows system version number.
• Then go to Excel, click File > Account > Product Information, check the Office product name, such as Office professional Plus, Standard.
• Please update your Windows and Office to the latest version.

Where do external links point to? Is it a network share or trusted website?

• It is recommended to add a file server or network share as a trusted site, by adding its FQDN or IP address to the list of trusted sites.

Currently, I also suggest you open the Excel application first, then browse the workbooks contains external links to open.

• If it does not work, please right click Excel icon, choose "Run as administrator" for a check.
• Run Excel in Safe Mode, check whether this issue is related to enabled COM add-ins. You may press and hold on Ctrl key, click or double-click Excel icon, until it asks if you want to start it in safe mode, then please release Ctrl key and click "Yes".

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