GL Wand Excel Not Responding: Causes and Fixes to Try

If GL Wand makes Excel show “Not Responding,” first stop clicking and give the current operation a little time to finish; a large report or slow data connection can temporarily occupy Excel. If it remains frozen, note what you were doing, then test Excel without add-ins and check whether the problem follows GL Wand, a particular workbook, or the data connection.

What the error means

“Not Responding” is a Windows status for an application that is not currently processing ordinary user input. It does not, by itself, identify the cause or prove that Excel has crashed. Excel may be waiting for an add-in, calculating formulas, opening a file, communicating with a server, or handling a large refresh. During some of these tasks, the window can appear frozen even though work is still underway.

GL Wand is an Excel-based reporting add-in. Its precise functions and connection requirements depend on the product version and the system it is configured to access, so the message alone cannot establish whether the add-in, Excel, the workbook, or a network service is at fault. The moment the freeze occurs is useful evidence: does it happen as Excel opens, when you open one specific report, when you refresh data, or when you save?

Do not repeatedly click the window or launch the same report again. Extra actions can make it harder to tell whether Excel is busy, and starting another instance may increase the workload. If the operation is a refresh or a large calculation, wait long enough to see whether it completes. There is no universal safe waiting time: report size, computer performance, and connection speed all matter.

What to do first without risking work

Before trying repairs, protect any unsaved work. If Excel begins responding again, save the workbook under a new name or make a copy in a safe location before changing add-ins or settings. If the window stays frozen, avoid ending the process immediately when the workbook contains unsaved changes; Excel may offer recovery after a forced close, but recovery is not guaranteed.

Record the action that preceded the freeze, the workbook name, and whether other Excel files still work. Note any message shown before Excel stopped responding.
Check whether the task is still progressing. Look for changing status text in Excel, activity in the workbook, or continuing network or system activity. These clues are not proof, but can help distinguish a long operation from a complete stall.
When Excel becomes usable, save a separate copy of the workbook. Avoid overwriting the only copy while diagnosing a report that may depend on external data.
If Excel does not recover and you must close it, use Task Manager only as a last resort: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, select Microsoft Excel, and choose End task. Reopen Excel and check for a Document Recovery pane or recovered files.

On a Mac, Windows Task Manager and the Windows shortcuts above do not apply. Use the Mac’s Force Quit window if Excel is truly stuck, and check Excel’s recovery options when reopening. Menu names and recovery behavior can vary by Excel build.

Check whether GL Wand or another add-in is involved

A useful isolation test is to start Excel in Safe Mode. On Windows, press Windows key+R, type excel /safe, and press Enter. Safe Mode starts Excel with many customizations and add-ins disabled. It is a diagnostic test, not a permanent fix. If Excel works normally in Safe Mode but freezes during the same task in a normal launch, an add-in or customization becomes more likely; that result does not prove GL Wand is the cause.

To check add-ins in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, use the Manage box to select COM Add-ins, then choose Go. If GL Wand appears in that list, clear its checkbox temporarily and restart Excel to compare behavior. Some installations may list an add-in under Excel Add-ins instead, so check the relevant list if it is not under COM Add-ins.

Do not remove or permanently disable an add-in that your organization requires. If the test points to GL Wand, re-enable it after the comparison and contact the person who manages the installation or your organization’s IT team. They can confirm whether the installed version is supported with your Excel build and configured data source. On Mac, available add-in types and management menus differ; use the add-in controls in that Excel build rather than assuming the Windows COM Add-ins steps apply.

Separate an Excel problem from a report or connection problem

Try to reproduce the issue in a controlled way. Open Excel without opening the affected report, then open a small, unrelated workbook. If both work, try a copy of the GL Wand workbook. If only one report freezes Excel, the report’s size, contents, or configuration may be relevant. A copied workbook is safer for testing because you can preserve the original.

Next, compare what happens before and during a refresh. If Excel is responsive until you request data and then hangs, the delay may involve the report operation or a connection to an external system. Check whether other users or other reports are affected, and whether your organization recently changed access, network, or data-source arrangements. Do not change credentials, server settings, or report definitions without guidance from the system owner.

Excel freezes as soon as it starts: test Safe Mode and check whether other add-ins or startup files are involved.
Only one workbook causes the freeze: test a copy and compare it with a known-working report, if your organization has one.
The freeze starts during refresh: record the report, approximate start time, and any connection message; ask the data-source administrator whether the service is available.
Several users see the same delay: a shared service or network issue is more plausible than a problem limited to one computer, but an administrator should verify it.

These are clues, not definitive diagnoses. For example, a workbook-specific problem can still arise from an add-in interaction, and a refresh delay can have more than one cause. The purpose of the comparisons is to give support staff a reproducible description rather than a guess.

When to repair Excel or update software

If Excel freezes with multiple unrelated workbooks, including when the GL Wand add-in is disabled, investigate Excel and the Office installation rather than focusing only on the report. Save your files, close Office apps, and install updates approved by your organization. If the problem continues, Microsoft 365 for Windows can be repaired through Windows settings: open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft 365, choose its menu, then select Modify. Depending on the installation, you may be offered Quick Repair and Online Repair. Online Repair is more extensive and may take longer.

Repairing Office is not the first choice when the problem happens only during one GL Wand report. It may not resolve a server or configuration issue, and managed workplace installations can require IT approval. Ask your administrator before changing a company-managed installation. On Mac, the Windows repair path does not apply; update Office through the supported Mac update method or consult your organization’s IT support.

Avoid downloading an add-in installer from an unofficial site or deleting program files to try to fix the freeze. If GL Wand needs repair, reinstalling or updating it should follow the vendor’s and your organization’s approved process, including any required configuration or permissions.

How to prevent repeat freezes

Prevention starts with understanding what makes the particular report slow. Large date ranges, many rows, repeated refreshes, or complex workbook calculations can require substantial work. If a report offers filters or a narrower date range, use the smallest scope that answers the business question, provided that doing so does not change the report’s intended meaning. Avoid launching multiple refreshes while one is still running.

Keep a reliable original of important workbooks and use copies when testing. If you are unsure whether a workbook contains saved changes, do not overwrite it with a version created during troubleshooting. Record the Excel version, GL Wand version if available, Windows version, workbook involved, and the steps that reproduce the freeze. Those details help IT or the product support team distinguish a local Excel issue from a report or connection issue.

There is no single setting that safely prevents every “Not Responding” message. Disabling an add-in, changing security controls, or altering a data connection may hide the symptom while disrupting reporting. Make one change at a time, compare the same task before and after, and restore settings that were changed only for diagnosis.

When to contact IT or product support

Escalate the issue if it repeats, affects important reporting, appears for multiple users, or risks unsaved work. Contact your organization’s IT team or the administrator responsible for GL Wand first if the installation or data source is managed centrally. They can verify deployment, permissions, compatibility, and service availability. If your organization directs you to product support, provide the same evidence rather than sending sensitive workbook data unless support has approved a secure method.

Include the exact Excel and add-in versions if available, your Windows or Mac version, the workbook or report name, the action that triggers the freeze, how long it lasts, and whether Safe Mode or disabling the add-in changes the outcome. Mention whether the issue is limited to one user or report. A screenshot of an error can help, but remove or obscure confidential financial or customer information before sharing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wait or force-close Excel?
Wait if Excel may be calculating, opening a large workbook, or refreshing a report, especially if there are signs of activity. Force-close only when it remains unresponsive and you accept that unsaved changes may be lost. Check for Document Recovery after restarting.

Does “Not Responding” mean GL Wand is broken?
No. Windows reports that Excel is not processing input, but the cause could be Excel, an add-in interaction, the workbook, or a connection. Compare other workbooks and use Safe Mode to narrow down the possibilities.

Will Safe Mode delete or change my workbook?
Starting Excel in Safe Mode is a diagnostic launch and does not itself delete a workbook. Do not use it to overwrite your only copy; save a separate copy before testing reports or changing add-in settings.

Can I disable GL Wand to make Excel work?
You can temporarily uncheck it as a test if it appears in Excel’s add-in list, but that may remove functions your reports rely on. Re-enable it after the comparison and ask your administrator before making a permanent change.

Why does Excel freeze only when I refresh?
A refresh can involve the add-in, the report, Excel, and an external data source. Note whether the delay affects one report or multiple users, and ask the data-source administrator to check service availability before changing connection settings.

Does the Windows Safe Mode command work on Mac?
No. The excel /safe command is for Windows. Mac uses different recovery and troubleshooting controls, so follow the options available in your Excel build or contact your organization’s support team.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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