Users have encountered the OLE Action error message while opening or using Excel workbooks.
This is what the error message reads – Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action.
This error message occurs due to several reasons, including corrupted add-ons or corrupted MS Office applications. Let’s discuss the OLE Action and the causes behind this error message. You will also learn some workarounds that may help you fix the error message.
What is an OLE Action?
Microsoft developed the OLE or ‘Object Linking and Embedding’ Action to allow different applications to interact with each other. This feature allows users to use a part of data from one document in another, creating a dynamic object or a link between the two documents. Users can also use the OLE Action to create static or embed objects from one application to another, saving the copied object in the destination file.
Check out this blog if you are facing the issue and looking to resolve ‘Excel file is not responding’ error.
Reasons Behind the OLE Action Error
The OLE Action error message in MS Excel occurs when Excel attempts to communicate with another application via OLE, but the other application does not respond. This failure causes the Excel to become unresponsive or generate the error message.
Here are some other reasons as well that result in the OLE Action error message in Excel –
- Disabled DDE protocol within Excel
- Corrupt MS Office application
- Conflicting add-ins
- Hidden links in the Excel file
Methods to Fix the OLE Action Error?
The error message can stall your work or make the application unresponsive. A quick way to fix this error message is to restart your computer. This will force the shutdown of all the background processes and unwanted applications using the OLE Action. After doing this, open an Excel workbook to check whether the OLE Action error message appears.
If you are still getting the error messages, try some of the workarounds explained below to fix the OLE Action error message –
Method 1: Sign Out of Windows While the Excel is Running
If the above error message frequently appears on the screen, you can try to fix it by signing out or restarting the PC while keeping the Excel open. The steps are as follows –
Caution – Save your documents before attempting this. This may lead to inadvertent data loss.
- Keep the MS Excel workbook open.
- Click on Start (Windows Icon)>Username>Sign out.
Before you sign out, the system will show you a blue screen with a dialog box asking whether you want to sign out, as several applications are up and running.
- Click Cancel to return.
Many users have found this method quite effective in fixing the error message. A possible explanation behind this fix could be eliminating background processes at the time of signing out.
Method 2: Enable the “Ignore Other Applications that Use DDE” Option
Disabled DDE protocol with MS Excel can make the spreadsheet wait for another application to finish an OLE action error message. You can fix this by enabling the related settings in Excel Options. Here’s what to do –
- Open an Excel Workbook.
- Click on File>Options to open the Excel Options
- Click on Advanced in the left pane.
- Move to the General section and checkmark the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)
- Click OK.
- Reopen the workbook to check if this has fixed the OLE Action error message.
Method 3: Disable the COM add-ins
You may sometimes see the OLE Action error message due to conflicting or corrupted add-ins. To troubleshoot the conflicts, disable the COM add-ins. Proceed with the steps below to disable the COM add-ins –
- Open an Excel workbook and click on File>Options to open the Excel Options
- Click on Add-ins on the pane on the left side.
- Use the drop-down menu against Manage and select COM Add-ins.
- Click on Go.
- You will see the COM Add-ins
- Uncheck all the selected COM Add-ins and click OK.
The above steps will disable the COM Add-ins. Close the file and relaunch it on any other workbook.
If you are able to open an Excel workbook without encountering the OLE Action error, enable the disabled COM add-ins one by one. In this way, you will be able to circle out the problematic add-in/s.
Note – Follow the above-mentioned steps to enable the add-ins.
Method 4: Repair/Reinstall MS Office
Sometimes, corrupted application files can generate the above error message on your screen. Repairing the MS Office can help eliminate the error message. Follow the steps below to repair MS Office –
- Press WINDOWS + I to open Settings.
- Click Apps.
- Click Apps & Features in the left pane and scroll down to locate Microsoft Office. Select it.
- Click Modify.
- A UAC window will appear. Click on Yes to proceed.
- You will see the MS Office configuration window. Select Repair to repair MS Office. Click Continue.
- After repairing, close the wizard and relaunch MS Excel.
Note – In case repairing MS Office didn’t fix the OLE Action error message, you can uninstall MS Office and reinstall it.
Powerful Software to Repair Excel File Errors
In most cases, you can easily fix the error message using one or the other methods explained above. But if the workarounds fail to fix the problem, you can use an advanced Excel file repair software to resolve the OLE Action error.
An advanced Excel file repair software can help you repair corrupt, inaccessible, damaged, or unrecognizable Excel files. This software can repair corrupted or damaged Excel files of various file formats, including .xls, .xlsx, .xltm, .xltx, and .xlsm. This utility also allows you to run multiple file repair processes simultaneously.
In case of severe Excel file corruption, this software can recover inaccessible data, objects, and information and save them in a new Excel file.
Final Thoughts
This error message is an irksome issue. However, you can easily fix it using the workarounds explained above. Additionally, you may also try to check and remove any hidden links in your Excel workbook. You can also try to disable the compatibility mode. The workarounds should be sufficient. However, you can always opt for powerful Excel repair software like Stellar Repair for Excel to deal with all kinds of Excel errors.
Kirsten Williams explores the full spectrum of the digital world, covering everything from essential technology guides and gaming industry trends to unique software and specialized hardware. You can find all her posts here.