Microsoft Excel is Trying to Recover Your Information Error

Microsoft Excel is part of Microsoft 365 business-oriented programs and acts as the default spreadsheet of the suite.

However, like all other files created by any of the programs belonging to the suite, it too can encounter the occasional error.

What does this error message say?

Such would be the case with some users that have been reporting a constant error in Microsoft Excel.

I have upgraded to office 2016 and I constantly get the error message
Microsoft Word / Excel is trying to recover your information
Now, everything does work. I can open the documents and they are fine, but these error messages keep coming up.
It also comes up when just browsing files in file explorer. If I want to just select a file to move it this message comes up and then goes after a few seconds. But it happens on EVERY document I click on and is really annoying.

Read on to find out how to fix your Excel files and get them working properly again.

How can I get rid of the information recovery error in Excel?

First of all, check whether this is a general occurrence, or if it just happens when you try opening a particular file. If you observe that this is a general issue, consider doing one of the following solutions.

1. 1. Check whether your antivirus software is up to date or conflicting with Excel

   Updating your antivirus software varies based on what antivirus you use. Additionally, try to shut down the antivirus and see if Microsoft Excel has any issues then.

   Please check the manufacturer’s website for more details on how to update or shut down your antivirus software.

2. 2. Disable the Preview Pane in file explorer

   While no explanation exists as to why this happens, it seems that many users found disabling the Preview Pane useful in getting rid of this error message.

   1. Press Windows + E.

   2. Go to the View tab

   3. Click on Preview Pane to disable it.

   

3. 3. Perform a clean boot

   You must first make sure you are signed in as an administrator:

   1. Press the Windows key to open the search box.

   2. Type in MSConfig.

   3. Select System Configuration.

   4. Go to the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box.

   5. Click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.

   6. Click Disable all.

   7. Go to the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box.

   8. Click Open Task Manager.

   9. Disable all items on the list.

   10. Close Task Manager.

   11. Click OK to confirm all changes.

   12. Restart the PC.

   

4. 4. Install the latest updates for Microsoft Excel

   1. Open Microsoft Excel.

   2. Click on File.

   3. Select Account.

   4. Click Update Options.

   5. Click Update Now.

   6. Let the updates run their course.

    

   

5. 5. Make sure that your system has enough RAM to run Excel

   While this may seem simple enough, you need to make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements to run Microsoft Excel.

   This is especially the case when you have a dated PC and a version of Microsoft Excel that is relatively new.

6. 6. Install the latest updates for your Windows System

   1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard.

   2. Select Settings (The cogwheel-shaped button in the start menu).

   3. Select Updates & Security.

   4. Click on Check for Updates.

   5. Let the updates run their course.

   6. Restart the PC.

   

7. 7. Disable add-ins

   1. Open the Excel sheet.

   2. Go to the File menu.

   3. Click on Options.

   4. Click on Add-ins.

   5. Select Excel add-ins and click on the Go button.

   6. Uncheck all boxes and click OK.

Do you also receive an error stating that Microsoft Excel is trying to recover your information? Did you try a solution not mentioned in this list that worked?

Let us know in the comments section below if our article helped you get rid of this error on your device.