Easy FIX: Retrieving data, wait a few seconds MS Excel error

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

When using the online version of Microsoft Excel, users you may encounter the Retrieving data, wait for a few seconds and try to cut or copy again error. This error message is triggered when the user tries to move the copied data into their computer.

Several users have reported similar issues with Microsoft Excel in theMicrosoft communityforum.

I tried to copy data from the Excel Web App to my desktop Excel 2013. It wasn’t a lot of data – 3 columns (of which 2 were mostly blank) x 140 rows. On pasting intoExcel, the cell displayed the message, “Retrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again.”

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve theRetrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again Microsoft Excel error.

How do I fix theRetrieving data error when copying text from an Excel file?

1. Download and open the Excel file in Microsoft Office

For this step to work, you must have Microsoft Office installed on your computer. In case you don’t have access to MS Office offline version, do the following.

2. Deselect and reselect the data

However, this is a temporary solution, and you may encounter this error in the future as well.

3. Change your web browser

The error Retrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again is most common on Internet Explorer.

If you don’t have any data to lose, you can close the tab and then your browser. Afterward, launch a different browser and just open the file in the Excel web app.

In case the issue persists, try changing the web browser to a more effective one. We highly recommendOpera One, a lightweight browser known for its excellent user experience.

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4. Use an offline copy of your document

In case the other solutions didn’t work out for you, it’s possible to fix this Excel error in another simple way.

To avoid this irritating issue, you may download the web Excel spreadsheet as a copy on your desktop.

This process is quite simple because you only have to open the Excel cloud app, select File, and press Download a copy to install it locally on your PC.

You should be able now to access your Excel data files and copy/paste information without getting the Retrieving data, wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again error message.

If you need more great guides about this amazing program, you can see thededicated Microsoft Excel hub.

There is also theMicrosoft Office pagefor the ones who need to learn about the entire suite of programs.

That being said, if the issue persists, try deselecting the data temporarily and try again. Additionally, changing your current web browser can help you resolve the issue as well.

Easy FIX: Retrieving data, wait a few seconds MS Excel error#

How do I fix theRetrieving data error when copying text from an Excel file?#

1. Download and open the Excel file in Microsoft Office#

2. Deselect and reselect the data#

3. Change your web browser#

4. Use an offline copy of your document#