Windows 11 updates are removing my Excel spreadsheet formatting

Question

Windows 11 updates are removing my Excel spreadsheet formatting

Tammy Hinkle 5

My Excel spreadsheet formatting keeps changing and I have realized it happens after Windows 11 auto updates. My formulas, freeze panes, column widths, links, etc... are gone each time. This is very frustrating because I have mostly noticed it on a very important spreadsheet I created probably 20 years ago and I still use it for my home budget. I have a number of tabs on this spreadsheet for a variety of needs, so it is my GO-TO for nearly everything. I also have it password protected. Thankfully, I found an older version of the spreadsheet that was not affected, so was able to copy the formulas over, but had to make a lot of updates to the data without being confident that I even found all of the latest changes. NOT FUN. I am speculating about this, but could it possibly be that I keep this spreadsheet open on my laptop nearly all the time because I reference it so much? I save it very frequently, so it is not an issue of it not having been saved after the latest updates. But the older version was not open, and the formatting was not affected on it. This makes me think the issue has to do with the spreadsheet being open at the time of the automatic update. Please look into this issue and get it fixed so it will stop happening! I lost my husband to Covid in 2022 and have created extensive tables on a couple of tabs calculating the best time for me to start taking his social security benefits. They have formulas and calculations over a number of years to compare total income. Every time Windows updates, I lose all of my formulas and have to remember what I did the previous time! Please help!

Judy PMSI 0 Reputation points

2026-05-05T18:22:10.6766667+00:00

I have MS365 and automatic updates. All my files are saved by MS365. When I opened my xlsx file, the formatting for the column doesn't work like it used to. I select "general" and the result is "0.3" instead of 30. There is no option to change the "general" definition. I have to type "thirty" in the column; therefore cannot get a total for that column. I close my file when done editing. This is frustrating and scares me because I depend on the formulas to be correct.

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Judy PMSI 0 Reputation points

2026-05-05T18:22:10.6766667+00:00

I have MS365 and automatic updates. All my files are saved by MS365. When I opened my xlsx file, the formatting for the column doesn't work like it used to. I select "general" and the result is "0.3" instead of 30. There is no option to change the "general" definition. I have to type "thirty" in the column; therefore cannot get a total for that column. I close my file when done editing. This is frustrating and scares me because I depend on the formulas to be correct.

Answer 1

Anonymous

Hi, I understand how important that spreadsheet is to you and how disruptive this issue can be. What’s happening is likely tied to Windows updates forcing Excel to close in the background while the file is still open, which can cause incomplete saves or corruption, especially with older file formats or password-protected workbooks. To help prevent this, try closing Excel before updates run, convert the file to the modern .xlsx format for better stability, and consider enabling AutoSave or storing it in OneDrive so version history is available. It’s also a good idea to keep a backup copy in a separate folder. Can you confirm if the file is still in the old .xls format and whether AutoSave is turned on? That will help us figure out the best next step.Regards,
Aron

Tammy Hinkle 5 Reputation points

2025-12-16T19:32:50.94+00:00

I just checked and both the older and newer versions were saved as .xlsb suffix. They were in different folders, and the older, unaffected spreadsheet was not open when the update ran. It was only the one that was open that was messed up. I refer to this spreadsheet so frequently, I just tend to keep it open all the time, but I guess I will start saving and closing it at the end of the day, in case updates run overnight that I was not expecting. I have now converted both spreadsheets to the .xlsx format and hope that closing the program will prevent this issue from occurring again! I do use autosave, but also manually save after entries, as well. I do hope your team will continue to look into this issue because it appears this is happening to other users besides me. If I follow through with closing at end of day, and the issue continues, I will update you! Thank you for your help!
Anonymous

2025-12-17T15:12:50.8433333+00:00

Alright, let me know how it goes.

Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing frustrating issues with your Excel spreadsheet formatting being altered after Windows 11 updates. While the exact cause of this problem isn't detailed in the provided context, there are a few general considerations that might help you troubleshoot the issue:

Workbook Compatibility: If your spreadsheet is an older version, it may not be fully compatible with newer versions of Excel or Windows updates. Consider saving it in the latest Excel format (.xlsx) if it isn’t already.
Excel Updates: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Excel. Sometimes, updates to Excel itself can resolve compatibility issues with Windows updates.
Open Workbooks During Updates: You speculated that keeping the workbook open during updates might be a factor. While the context does not specifically address this, it is generally advisable to close applications before performing system updates to prevent any potential conflicts.
Backup Regularly: Since you mentioned having found an older version of your spreadsheet, it's a good practice to regularly back up important files. Consider using OneDrive or another cloud service for automatic backups.
Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for assistance, especially since you have a critical spreadsheet that you rely on.

While these suggestions may not directly resolve the issue, they could help mitigate the risk of losing your formatting and formulas in the future.

References:

Troubleshoot why Excel doesn't save changes

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Windows 11 updates are removing my Excel spreadsheet formatting

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