11 Solutions for Excel Cannot Complete This Task with Available Resources Error!

Microsoft Excel is a popular application used to store crucial information in spreadsheets. This helps the users to calculate, manipulate, organize, and manage the data easily. Both large and small organizations use this software to manage their data. However, like any other application, Excel is also prone to errors and issues, one such error that can frustrate users is- “Excel cannot complete this task with available resources.”

This error typically appears due to insufficient system resources, file corruption, or other reasons. Well, in this, I will discuss the major factors and quick resolutions to get rid of this error.

Why Excel Cannot Complete This Task with Available Resources Error Occurs?

This error message occurs when trying to open, access, or save the Excel workbook. You may also receive this error when attempting to delete/define a name within the Excel file

Common Causes:

It triggers due to the various reasons, such as:

1. Insufficient disk space
2. Exceeding the rows limit in the spreadsheet table (limit is 1000).
3. Using complex formulas & calculations
4. Running too many background processes
5. Large dataset size
6. Excel file corruption
7. Exceeding the limit of characters in 1 cell (32,767)
8. Faulty Excel add-ins.

How to Solve Excel Cannot Complete This Task with Available Resources Error?

When provoked by cannot complete this task error, the below troubleshooting steps can be undertaken to solve it:

Solution 1: Check Whether you Exceed Limits

As it is said above due to storing large data in Excel files users are getting an error message. So here it is recommended to check whether you exceed limits like you are running too many calculations in the workbook, storing plenty of data, and many others.

Here check out the limit of Excel files:

• The Excel worksheet’s maximum size limit is 1,048,576 rows by 16,384 columns.
• The number of characters a cell contains is 32,767 characters.
• In a calculation maximum selected range is 2,048.
• In a calculation maximum, the nested level of functions is 64.

Also Read: Excel Not Enough System Resources to Display Completely Error!

Solution 2: Close Background Running Apps

If too many applications are running in the system’s background, it can lead to this error. Closing the unnecessary applications could work for you to tackle this situation.

To do so, follow the below steps:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open the Task Manager.
• Under Process tab, right-tap on the useless apps >> choose End task.

Solution 3: Disable Unwanted Formatting in Your Spreadsheet

Due to the unwanted formatting in the spreadsheet users are getting an Excel cannot complete this task with available resources error. So here it is recommended to delete the unwanted formatting in the Excel file.

Follow the steps to do so:   

• Select all by pressing Ctrl + A.
• Then on the right-hand side, click “Clear” and then click on “Clear Formats”.

Solution 4: Try Opening Excel in Safe Mode to Fix Excel Cannot Complete This Task With Available Resources

Another working trick that can be tried is opening the Excel program in a safe mode. This will check for the faulty add-ins & disable them immediately.

Steps to be followed to get Excel running in safe mode:

• Press the WINDOWS + R keys.
• Next, type “excel.exe /safe”.

• After this, click OK. Now, you are in the safe mode.
• Finally, review the add-ons & delete the unnecessary ones.

Also Read: Microsoft Excel “File Not Loaded Completely” Error? Try 7 Quick Fixes!

Solution 5: Set Automatic Calculation to Manual

Excel calculates the formula automatically if any change is made by default. But to increase the performance of Excel, the automatic calculation should be set to manual using the steps given below:

• Click on “File” then click “Option” >> Formulas.
• Under Calculation option select “Manual”
• Click OK.

Solution 6: Disable Background or Startup Program Permanently

Follow the steps to disable the background or startup program permanently.

• Press the Windows key + R
• Type msconfig and click OK.

• In the “General” tab select “Selective Startup”.
• And, in the “Startup” tab, disable (uncheck) any items which are not needed.
• Now, in the “services” tab, select “Hide all Microsoft services”, then uncheck or disable any items which are not needed.

• Select “OK” and restart your computer.

Solution 7: Change defined names to reference cells directly

If you have used a defined name to represent a cell, the range of cells, formula, or constant value, then this is also responsible for getting the error.  The error can occur if the defined names indirectly refer to other nested names more than 20 levels deep.

So follow the steps:

• Add or utilize a name that exceeds the indirection level in the formula
• Delete name referenced by more than 20 levels of defined names

To fix the error, change the defined names so that they reference given cells directly.

Solution 8: Turn Off Detail Pane and Preview Pane

It is found that by disabling the detail pane and preview pane the error is fixed.

• Press Window + R key > then in Run dialogue box > type excel > hit Enter.
• Now press CTRL + O Key > and in the Open window > click on the Organize button in the upper left corner > click Layout.
• After that uncheck Details pane and Preview pane.

Solution 9: Upgrade Hardware & Software

• Increase your system Ram e.g. from 2 to 4 or 4 to 8.
• Upgrade your Excel to 64-bit, which takes the benefit of more than 2 GB RAM and enables much larger workbooks.

Hope by following the given solution, error Excel cannot complete this task with available resources. choose less data or close application is solved. But if in case not then make use of the third-party repair utility to fix the error easily.

Also Read: You Can’t Open the Application “Microsoft Excel” Because It May Be Damaged or Incomplete.

Solution 10: Repair Your Excel Workbook using Open & Repair

Excel cannot complete this task with available resources choose less data or close applications 2013/2016/2019 can occur due to workbook corruption. In such a situation, you can try Excel’s Open and Repair tool to repair the corrupted Excel file.

Follow these instructions carefully:

• Open the Excel application, go to the File tab >> click Open.

• Then, click Browse>> select the corrupted file.
• After that, click the arrow next to an Open button >> choose Open and Repair.

• Now, click Repair option to recover as much of the data as possible.
• Finally, click Close when the message prompts up.

Recommended- Use Excel Repair & Recovery Tool

When it comes to fixing the Excel corruption problem and the errors occurring due to the corruption, then nothing is better than the MS Excel Repair Tool. It is a unique tool that repairs multiple corrupted Excel files at one time and also recovers everything including charts, cell comments, worksheet properties, and other data.

Besides, this program is extremely easy to use and supports both Windows & Mac operating systems.

Try Now       Buy Now

* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

Steps to Utilize MS Excel Repair Tool:

Unique FAQs:

What To Do When Excel Says It Ran Out of Resources?

When Excel says it ran out of resources, you should do the following things:

• Restart your PC.
• Free up memory space
• Reinstall Excel or Office.

How to Increase Memory Availability in Excel?

To increase the memory availability in Excel, consider optimizing your worksheets by eliminating unnecessary formatting, minimizing external data connections, and reducing the number of calculations.

How to Recover Corrupted Excel?

You can recover a corrupted Excel file from a recent backup.

Final Verdict

After going through this helpful guide, I am sure you can fix the Excel cannot complete this task with available resources choose less data or close applications error on your own. Here, I have covered from basic troubleshooting to advanced methods. Therefore, it’s my recommendation to follow them carefully.

Good Luck!!!