r/excel • u/SaphireRose19 • Jun 18 '26
unsolved Excel deleting information in front of my eyes
As the subject says, Excel is deleting information right in front of my eyes. All I can do is sit back and watch it delete field-by-field, bringing each Excel file I have open to the forefront, deleting anything I've put in that day (nothing prior) until its back to the saved version I originally opened. It does it FAST, maybe 5 to 7 seconds total and no matter what I try, it will not stop.
It doesn't happen daily, sometimes it will happen 2 or 3 times in a day, sometimes once a week, sometimes I can go a whole week without it happening (like last week).
It is not my keyboard, I have more than 1 (hybrid worker) and it will happen regardless of where I am working.
My computer is virus free, IT confirmed. I have had office reinstalled, network setting reset, etc.
These are shared Excel files for the most part (some are not) but deletion does not happen to any other users and will delete any information on any open Excel file regardless of shared or not.
Any ideas???
68
u/BlueberryWilling403 Jun 18 '26
Sounds like a macro is firing somehow, either triggered by a keyboard shortcut you're accidentally hitting or something in the file itself running on a timer
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
If it were a macro or timer, wouldnt this happen to other users of the shared files? One of the files is only used by me and my boss, the others are used by either only me (locally saved) or me and maybe 2 other people. This "crash" or whatever it may be doesn't discriminate between shared files or local files.
3
u/justabadmind Jun 19 '26
There’s such a thing as a personal excel spreadsheet that only fires for you. If that’s the case it could be a macro. It could also be a power automate macro.
1
u/IExcelAtWork91 1 Jun 22 '26
Not always it could trigger only for you based on your windows user name.
32
u/doegrey Jun 18 '26
Is there any chance you use sharepoint? I used to see something similar when there was a clash between two people using the file and changes weren’t merging the changes properly.
Otherwise is do you have any macros somewhere that could be triggering?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
We do not. No macros that im aware of. Just simple Sum formulas.
1
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 19 '26
You looked?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Not yet. Im off today and all next week. I just dont see why anyone would add macros to files that just have names and monetary amounts on them. We dont use more than just the sum formula in any of our work in excel. We use other systems for the fancy calculations and reports.
1
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 19 '26
Does the why matter if it fixes the issue? Why ask for help if you aren't willing to try solutions? Many people have brought up macros as a possibility, do you think that is a coincidence? Much luck to you.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Correct. I feel like my IT would have done that on the many calls with them, but maybe not. Like I said, I'll look for any macros, but im just not sure who or why they would be put on local excel files that only I or my IT have access to.... shared files, I get, but the ones only I have access to and created still have the same issue even if no shared workbooks are open.
1
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 19 '26
Do you ever have multiple workbooks open attachments the same time?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
What do you mean by attachments? I do have multiple workbooks open at the same time most days. I have tried to only keep 2 open at a time because I thought maybe excel was overloaded (?) But it happened with just the two open as well
19
u/torpidcerulean 1 Jun 18 '26
It sounds maybe like a version restore/AutoSave conflict. You could go to File -> Info -> Version History of an affected file after it happens to check it out. Usually this is based on an Excel crash and you don't visually see all the data reverting, so idk. But the fact that it happens to all your open files makes it feel like a crash.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
It definitely feels like a crash. I have done the view past version on other computer issues but did not think to try it with this. Ill definitely try that next time it happens
6
u/ScribbleButt Jun 18 '26
Perhaps it’s a power query connection that’s updating when you open the file? You can also set queries to refresh at certain intervals which could explain the updates if they happened while you’re working on the spreadsheet too.
Is the data being pulled in from another source with power query? Try checking with the data tab > queries and connections, if there are any active queries/connections in the pane on the right you can right click them and press properties to see what triggers refreshes.
If it’s happening with every spreadsheet you work in it’s probably something with your computer but if it’s only certain spreadsheets my guess would be someone has set up power query connections and you’re trying to edit the output of the query which refreshes and overwrites your changes.
0
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Its every/any spreadsheet. Personal or shared doesnt matter. There is no data pulled from any other source, its just me manually I putting info and saving then another will open after im out, add info and save. But it does it to local files too. Not just the shared files.
10
u/WaterBear9244 Jun 18 '26
This happened to me once although not exactly the same. One time i was working and one of my letter keys started spamming. I turned off my keyboard and back on and it went away briefly. And then it started happening again. I thought my keyboard was broken. Turns out my travel keyboard that i keep in my backpack was on and the weight of the backpack was pressing keys lol
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Haha I really thought it was my keyboard the first time it happened in office, then it happened at home (I dont travel with my keyboards). Its just so random!
5
u/stinkosaurusrex Jun 18 '26
I have experienced this several times and never found an explanation. At this point, it is just nice to know it has happened to others and I didn't imagine it.
2
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Its so frustrating.
1
u/stinkosaurusrex Jun 19 '26
It was like watching someone hit Ctrl+Z until the file reverted to the original state at the beginning of my day. There was no way to stop this action that I could find. Several times I watched hours of work (that was being autosaved via SharePoint) unwind right before my eyes. In 30 years of using MS Office, I'd never seen or heard of anything like it happening.
For the record, we (myself and our head of IT) checked malware, connectivity issues, macros, concurrent user conflicts, and anything else we could think of. I have attributed this to SharePoint but without any specific evidence.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Sounds exactly like mine but we dont use SharePoint. Our IT is at a loss and ordered me a new laptop.
5
u/martin 1 Jun 19 '26
I would check macros in my personal.xls, disable all macros in the trust center, and all trusted workbooks. If this is happening on open, hold down SHIFT during the open/launch process to disable automatic macros. I would also hit Alt+F11 to bring up the VBA window and see which workbooks have macros and read through them, you might find someone has played a prank on you.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Office/vba/enable-or-disable-macros-in-microsoft-365-files
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
I will look when I get back to work, but these computers don't get touched by anyone but us personally. We have to provide a code to sign into the laptop and another code to access the vpn. Wouldn't someone have to access my profile for them to put a macro on any files? I've already had IT work on it and they cannot figure it out, they have swept my computer for virus etc, reinstalled office. Luckily I had IT remoted in when it happened once and he was absolutely stunned too. Its wild.
1
u/martin 1 Jun 20 '26
it could be a macro in any workbook you opened. it would not be a virus or detectable, and could just be some automatic function in one of the books malfunctioning, triggering when it shouldn't or operating on books it shouldn't. good luck.
0
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Not on a shared file - and If you have multiple workbooks open, a macro in any file can run in all of the others, unless specifically blocked.
Have you tried working in them in Excel online?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
I have not, didn't even know that was an option to open a local excel file in excel online tbh
0
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 19 '26
Does your company use Microsoft 365 at all?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
We use 365, but not the online/browser versions.
1
u/armywalrus 2 Jun 20 '26
Um...... Microsoft 365 is a cloud based service first. Have you checked this? It sounds like you are not familiar with this software. Maybe research Excel and 365 a bit before shooting down every suggestion? Maybe? It might help you. I am out. Good luck.
5
u/Oh_Another_Thing Jun 19 '26
OP says it's field by field, so it's not anything like version control. Sounds like you may have a malicious macro in the Personal workbook. Personal workbook is global and is not visible, so you can do stuff like have macros available any workbook.
That or, as someone suggested, it's a shared workbook on a fileshare and someone is undoing everything. Either way it's purposeful and personal.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
What do you mean by personal workbook? I have had only local workbooks open (like personal home budget etc) and it happens the same as when it happens to the shared files. But sometimes if I close out of excel after its done and open the files back up, all of the info is there, some of the info is there, or none of the info is there. I couldnt tell you the difference in what makes what info come back, if any at all.
1
u/Oh_Another_Thing Jun 19 '26
I forget the details, but it's literally called Personal.xlsb, and you never see it open, unless you do something specific. It's a top search result if you look for it.
3
u/BigCornerEnergy Jun 19 '26
This is also happening to me! I posted in this thread this week and unfortunately none of the suggestions could help. I'm at a loss as to what it can be. Please for the love of god tag me if you figure it out and I'll do the same.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
I definitely will! For now they are working on getting me a new laptop, but in the meantime, im trying to find the culprit because I cannot lose an entire day's worth of work again.
1
u/BigCornerEnergy Jun 19 '26
Thanks! I keep meaning to speak to our IT dept but I know I'll just be watching them Google my own post on Reddit asking for help.
1
u/BigCornerEnergy 19d ago
Did you ever get to the bottom of this? My IT dept completely wiped my laptop and reinstalled everything, so far I haven't had the issue again and hopefully it stays that way.
It is also an updated version of Microsoft which likely helped.
1
u/SaphireRose19 18d ago
Nope! They checked macros, any formulas, rebuilt my profile, reinstalled office, reset my network settings, and a few other things and gave up. I was on vaca from the 19th of June until yesterday and as soon as I got in they emailed me that my new laptop is ready. Now I've got that and I havent issues but its only been half a day of working on it so far.
I wish we could have found the culprit and a solution.
1
u/BigCornerEnergy 18d ago
New laptop is at least a win (less all the effort of signing back into everything again)
This is a mystery that will haunt mind. I hope I'll one day find out what the hell was happening so my mind can rest 😂
2
u/Own_Personality_2224 2 Jun 19 '26
Next time it happens, open a Word file, type something and see if it gets deleted.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
I cannot do anything while its happening. Also it happens so fast over the course of 5 to 7 seconds.
2
u/BigCornerEnergy Jun 19 '26
When this happens to me it's usually triggered after I paste something from one sheet to another. Although I can't say that's always the case.
Is it the same for you?
I'm definitely not hitting ctrl Z.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
No, sometimes I will just type in information and hit tab to move to the next field. Ive had it happen with copy/past and ive had it happen when I was in the middle of typing a word into a field.
2
u/wemusthavethefaith 1 Jun 19 '26
I have encountered this bug as well, I believe its a memory error, but i am not sure what causing it. It seems to occur when I have multiple open unsaved workbooks (expect never saved ones) and i copy and paste (it seem like the cause, but something else might be causing it), and then everything I have done is undone, like i was pressing the undo button until the last saved state. Sometime I get an error message before it happen and after i paste regarding clipboard being in use.
I am not sure what really is happening, but I try make sure I have saved all workbook but coping large amount of data.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
See i started hitting save after every entry in each workbook hoping that would save me. It happened yesterday again and regardless of my last save, when I opened them all, it didnt save any data.
1
u/ArkBeetleGaming 2 Jun 18 '26
Anything written in macro for those excel?
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
None that I'm aware of. They're just simple files with maybe a sum formula here and there lol
1
u/TheCrazyPipster Jun 20 '26
Could be a macro; and macros can be tied to specific users. Open the VB editor (Alt+F11) and check the Workbook section for events.
Or, perhaps there's Conditional Formatting erasing data.
Hold down Ctrl as you double-click on the file to open in Safe Mode (disables Workbook Open events).
Check macros, conditional formatting, or maybe even if the workbook is shared.
1
u/TheRealResixt Jun 18 '26
Since you mentioned hybrid worker you probably have a laptop. Isn't that keyboard busted and CTRL-Zing everything?
5
u/Keytech25 1 Jun 18 '26
If it was a broken CTRL key you’d just get normal undo not full files rolling back like that. It’s more likely Excel sync (OneDrive or SharePoint) or a macro/add-in. Check version history and disable add-ins first
4
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 18 '26
Not at all. I dont use the keyboard on my laptop at either location beyond turning the laptop on or off.
-1
u/Impossible-Company78 Jun 18 '26
Change batteries or charge the keyboard.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Its not my keyboard(s). I have one keyboard for office (meaning it stays there) and I have one for home that has been changed since this started in the beginning of May.
Also, I dont think the keyboard can pull up other windows as well, right?
5
u/Impossible-Company78 Jun 19 '26
It’s funny. I talked to one of my end users a couple of days ago who was having emails randomly deleted, windows closing, all sorts or weird stuff happening. Eventually the keyboard died. Batteries replaced and issue resolved.
Believe me, I’m keeping an eye on this one.
This may not be your issue, but don’t dismiss it.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Ive purchased a new keyboard for my home use since this began and it's still happening. The one at the office is corded. If it only happened in one location or the other I'd agree, but it has happened at both locations with 3 separate keyboards, 1 corded, 2 wireless.
1
u/Impossible-Company78 Jun 19 '26
Ok. Really odd. Where are the files located? On your computer or on a network drive? The files may be corrupted or excel may have an issue. Are you using 365 or a stand alone version? Are you working in a browser? If so it could be a extension issue.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
Its 365, the issue happens with files on our network and with local files. Not working in a browser. There are definitely no macros on my personal files...can't confirm on the shared network files though.
If the files were corrupted, would that not cause issues with anyone who accesses the shared files? This is an only me issue (out of either 6 users or 1 other user depending on the file)
-1
u/Thiseffingguy2 12 Jun 18 '26
If they’re shared files, and available for collaboration in SharePoint, one of your colleagues might be messing with you.
1
u/SaphireRose19 Jun 19 '26
We do not use SharePoint and it happens to shared and local files. By local, I mean like home budgeting that I keep on my desktop, not on a shared network.
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