How to Fix “Retrieving Data. Wait a Few Seconds and Try to Cut or Copy Again” in Excel

Key Takeaways

• The “Retrieving Data” message in Excel is caused by performance issues like external connections, large data sets, complex formulas, add-ins, or clipboard problems.
• Quick fixes: wait briefly, clear the clipboard, fix external links, disable unnecessary add-ins, and optimize formulas.
• Advanced solutions: disable hardware graphics acceleration, repair the Excel file, split large workbooks, run in Safe Mode, or reinstall Excel.
• Prevent issues by keeping Excel updated and practicing efficient data management.

• External Data Connections: Your workbook might be linked to external databases, websites, or other files.
• Large Data Sets: Handling massive amounts of data can slow things down.
• Complex Formulas: Heavy calculations or array formulas can bog down performance.
• Add-ins: Third-party add-ins might be causing delays.
• Clipboard Issues: The clipboard might be overloaded or encountering errors.

Understanding the cause is half the battle. Now, let’s look at how to fix it.

• What to Do: Watch the status bar at the bottom of the Excel window. If it says “Calculating…” or “Retrieving Data…”, let it finish.
• Tip: If this happens frequently, consider optimizing your workbook to reduce processing time.

• How to Clear It:
  1. Go to the Home tab.
  2. Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Clipboard group to open the Clipboard pane.
  3. Click Clear All.

• How to Check:
  1. Go to the Data tab.
  2. Click on Edit Links (if available).
  3. Review the list of linked files or sources.
  4. Update or remove any problematic links.

• How to Disable Them:
  1. Click on File > Options.
  2. Select Add-ins.
  3. At the bottom, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
  4. Uncheck any add-ins you don’t need.
  5. Restart Excel.

• What to Do:
  • Simplify Formulas: Break down complex formulas into smaller parts.
  • Use Manual Calculation Mode:
    1. Go to the Formulas tab.
    2. Click on Calculation Options.
    3. Select Manual.
    4. Press F9 to calculate when needed.

• How to Update:
  1. Open any Office app.
  2. Click on File > Account.
  3. Under Product Information, click Update Options > Update Now.
• How to Repair:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
  2. Find Microsoft Office in the list.
  3. Right-click and select Change.
  4. Choose Quick Repair or Online Repair.

• How to Disable:
  1. Click on File > Options.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. Scroll down to the Display section.
  4. Check Disable hardware graphics acceleration.
  5. Click OK.

• How to Repair the File:
  1. Open Excel.
  2. Click on File > Open.
  3. Navigate to your file.
  4. Click the arrow next to Open and select Open and Repair.
  5. Choose Repair when prompted.

• What to Do:
  • Move some data to separate workbooks.
  • Use links to connect data if necessary, but be cautious as this can introduce new issues.

• How to Start in Safe Mode:
  1. Press and hold the Ctrl key while launching Excel.
  2. Click Yes when prompted to open in Safe Mode.

• How to Reinstall:
  1. Uninstall Microsoft Office from Control Panel > Programs and Features.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Install Microsoft Office again.

• Automatic Updates:
  • Ensure that Office updates are set to install automatically.

• What to Do:
  • Close unnecessary programs.
  • Check Task Manager to see if any processes are hogging resources.

• Limit Volatile Functions: Functions like NOW(), TODAY(), and RAND() recalculate every time Excel updates.
• Avoid Array Formulas if Possible: They can be resource-intensive.
• Use Tables and Named Ranges: This can make formulas more efficient.

• Contact Microsoft Support: They might have additional solutions.
• Check Online Forums: Communities like Stack Overflow or the Microsoft Community can be invaluable.
• Consult IT Professionals: If you’re in a corporate environment, your IT department might have specific protocols.