4 Fixes for “There Isn’t Enough Memory to Complete This Action” in Microsoft Excel

Quick Tips

• The Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) option can make Excel unstable and run out of memory. So, it’s best to disable it.
• Emptying Excel’s AppData folder can fix issues caused by corrupt configuration files and resolve this error.
• Consider using Excel in safe mode or running the Office repair tool if nothing works.

Try Basic Fixes

• Close background apps and programs: Running too many resource-intensive apps and programs on Windows can trigger the “There isn’t enough memory to complete this action” error in Microsoft Excel. Hence, first, close any unwanted apps and programs to free up memory.
• Update Microsoft Excel: Using an outdated version of Microsoft Excel can also cause such problems. This can happen if you’ve turned off automatic updates for the Office apps on Windows. To update Excel, go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.

Fix 1: Modify Dynamic Data Exchange Settings

When the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) option is enabled in Excel, it allows other apps to access and update data within your spreadsheets. However, these DDE interactions can sometimes make Excel unstable and run out of memory. Hence, it’s best to disable this functionality.

Step 1: Open Excel and click Options at the bottom left corner.

Step 2: Switch to the Advanced tab in the Excel Options window.

Step 3: Scroll to the General section and uncheck Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). Then, click OK.

Fix 2: Empty Excel’s AppData Folder

Problems with Excel’s configuration and temporary files can also result in the “Not enough memory” error. Some users on a Microsoft Community thread reported resolving the error by emptying Excel’s AppData folder. You can also give it a go.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\ in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: In the File Explorer window, select all the files and folders and click the trash icon at the top to delete them.

Fix 3: Run Excel in Safe Mode

A malfunctioning add-in could interfere with Excel and cause it to show the “There isn’t enough memory to complete this action” error. Running Excel in safe mode can help you verify if that is the case.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type excel -safe in the box, and press Enter to open Excel in safe mode.

Try using Excel in safe mode and see if it throws any errors. If it runs smoothly, disable all your add-ins and re-enable them one at a time to identify the one causing the issue. Here’s how:

Step 1: In Microsoft Excel, go to File > Options.

Step 2: In the Excel Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab > select COM Add-ins in the Manage drop-down menu > click the Go button.

Step 3: Clear all the checkboxes and click OK.

Restart Excel after this, and then enable your add-ins one by one until the error pops up again. Once you find the faulty add-in, consider removing it.

Fix 4: Run the Office Repair Tool

Running the Office repair tool on Windows effectively resolves performance issues with Office apps such as Excel. This tool can address any problems with Office installation files causing Excel to run out of memory while performing tasks such as printing, deleting rows, or loading workbooks.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type appwiz.cpl in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Microsoft Office suite and click the Change button.

Step 3: Select Online Repair and click Repair.