Excel’s File not loaded completely? How Can You Fix This Error

A file that is too big for Excel will give you this error message

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

TheMicrosoft ExcelFile not loaded completelyerror arises when users try to open an Excel spreadsheet or import aCSV fileso big that is not supported by Excel. When that error arises, theFile not loaded completelydialog box opens which explains why the error message appears. That dialog box states:

This message can appear due to one of the following : The file contains more than 1,048,576 rows or 16,384 columns… The area that you are trying to paste the tab-delineated data into is too small.

That error often arises when users try to open spreadsheets that eclipse Excel’s maximum worksheet limit specifications for total columns and rows.

Alternatively,youmight try to import CSV data into a sheet that eclipses Excel’s maximum limit specs. TheExcel specifications and limits pageprovide full details for all the application’s maximum limits.

How do I fix the File not loaded completely error?

1. Open the spreadsheet with alternative software

Most spreadsheet applications support Excel’s file format. So, try opening the Excel file in an alternative freeware spreadsheet application that might not have the same maximum limits.

If you can open it in alternative spreadsheet software, you can reduce the number of rows and columns in the file so that it opens in Excel.

Alternatively, try opening the spreadsheet with auniversal file opener(UFO) software. File Viewer Lite is a freeware UFO software you can add to Windows by clickingFree Downloadonits page. After installing it, open the Excel spreadsheet in File Viewer Lite.

Note, however, that you can only save modified spreadsheets with File Viewer Plus, which is the full version.

2. Import the Spreadsheet into Access

Thereafter, you can view the spreadsheet’s content within its database table. You can also remove table rows and export the modified file back to Excel as a spreadsheet.

3. Split a CSV file before importing it

If the File not loaded completely error arises when you try to import a CSV file, try splitting the CSV with the Split CSV File program.

Thereafter, you can import the split CSV file into separate Excel worksheets.

4. Repair a corrupted Excel file

Those are some of the resolutions that might fix theFile not loaded completelyerror. To ensure that error doesn’t arise, make sure your spreadsheets don’t eclipse Excel’s max limit specifications.

The best way to do that is to utilize multiple sheets within a workbook as the column and row max limits apply more specifically to single worksheets.

Excel’s File not loaded completely? How Can You Fix This Error#

How do I fix the File not loaded completely error?#

1. Open the spreadsheet with alternative software#

2. Import the Spreadsheet into Access#

3. Split a CSV file before importing it#

4. Repair a corrupted Excel file#