Excel Not Enough Memory and Then Closes: Solutions to Resolve the Issue

When working on important spreadsheets, it can be frustrating when Excel suddenly closes due to not enough memory. This issue may occur due to various reasons such as insufficient system resources, corrupted files, or incorrect settings. In this article, we will discuss some effective solutions to resolve the 'Excel not enough memory and then closes' problem.

Firstly, let's understand that Excel temporarily stores files in the AppData Roaming folder until you save them manually. This feature helps recover unsaved documents when your system or Excel app crashes. However, if you're experiencing issues with memory usage, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem.

Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration

One of the most effective solutions is to disable hardware graphics acceleration. To do this:

1. Open Excel Options by clicking on File > Options.

2. Go to the Advanced tab.

3. In the Display section, uncheck the box associated with Disable hardware graphics acceleration.

Run Excel with Administrative Privileges

Running Excel as an administrator can also help resolve the issue. Here's how you can do it:

1. Right-click on the Excel icon and select Run as Administrator.

2. This will open a new instance of Excel with administrative privileges.

Toggle Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Mode

Another solution is to toggle off the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) mode. To do this:

1. Open Excel Options by clicking on File > Options.

2. Go to the Advanced tab.

3. Scroll down and uncheck the box associated with Disable hardware graphics acceleration.

4. Check if the error 'Not enough memory to run Excel' is resolved.

Close Non-Essential Background Applications

Closing non-essential background applications can also help free up system resources, reducing the likelihood of the 'Excel not enough memory and then closes' issue. To do this:

1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.

2. In the Processes tab, look for any non-essential applications using significant resources.

3. Right-click on these applications and select End Task.

In some cases, the issue may be caused by corrupted user settings or files. Logging in to Windows with a new user profile can help resolve this:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.

2. Click on Add someone else to this PC.

3. Follow the prompts to create a new user account.

Get Your Microsoft Office Updated

Finally, ensure that you're running the latest version of Microsoft Office. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can help resolve issues like the 'Excel not enough memory and then closes' problem.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Excel not enough memory and then closes' issue and continue working on your spreadsheets without any interruptions.