How to Fix Retrieving data, wait a few seconds MS Excel error

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used globally for data analysis, financial modeling, and much more. However, like any software, it can sometimes run into errors that disrupt your workflow. One such common error is the "Retrieving Data, Wait a Few Seconds" message, which can be frustrating if it persists. This blog will guide you through understanding the causes of this error and how to fix it.

Understanding the Error

The "Retrieving Data, Wait a Few Seconds" error in Excel usually occurs when the program is trying to fetch data from an external source, such as:

An external database (SQL, Access, etc.)
An online data source (web queries)
A linked Excel workbook

This error typically appears when there's a delay in retrieving the data, which could be due to several reasons:

Network Issues: Poor internet connection or network issues can delay data retrieval from online sources or shared network drives.
Data Source Availability: The external data source might be unavailable or experiencing issues.
Large Data Sets: Working with very large data sets can cause delays.
Add-ins or Extensions: Certain add-ins or extensions in Excel can interfere with data retrieval.
Excel Configuration: Incorrect settings in Excel can sometimes cause issues.

How to Fix the Error

Here are several methods you can try to resolve this error:

1. Check Network Connection

Ensure that your internet connection is stable. If you're working on a network drive or online data source, check if the network is working correctly. Try opening other web pages or files from the network drive to verify connectivity.

2. Verify Data Source Availability

Ensure that the external data source is available and accessible. For databases, check if the server is running and there are no connectivity issues. If you are pulling data from a web source, make sure the website is up and running.

3. Reduce Data Set Size

If you're working with a large data set, try to reduce its size:

Use filters to limit the amount of data retrieved.
Split large data sets into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Consider summarizing data before importing it into Excel.

4. Disable Unnecessary Add-ins

Certain add-ins might interfere with Excel's ability to retrieve data. Disable unnecessary add-ins to see if the issue is resolved:

Go to File > Options.
Click on Add-ins.
In the Manage box, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
Uncheck any add-ins you don’t need and click OK.

5. Adjust Excel Options

Adjusting Excel settings can sometimes help:

Go to File > Options.
Select Advanced.
Scroll down to the General section and check the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) option.

6. Update or Repair Office

Ensure that your Office suite is up to date. Sometimes, updates include bug fixes that can resolve data retrieval issues. To update Office:

Open any Office application (e.g., Excel).
Go to File > Account.
Click Update Options and select Update Now.

If updating doesn't help, you can try repairing Office:

Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Select your Microsoft Office installation.
Click Change and select Repair.

7. Clear Excel Cache

Clearing the Excel cache can sometimes resolve retrieval issues:

Close Excel.
Open File Explorer and navigate to %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel.
Delete the XLSTART folder (Excel will recreate it when needed).

Contact Support.Com

If you are still having trouble, refer to the Step-By-Step Guide below, or Contact Support.Com for Personalized Assistance.

1. Introduction

Microsoft Excel is the dedicated spreadsheet tool that is part of the Microsoft Office suite of programs. Unfortunately, this program can run into the occasional error,

In this guide, you'll learn How to Fix Retrieving data, wait a few seconds MS Excel error

2. How to Fix

Download and open the Excel file in Microsoft Office

Open the Excel sheet that you want to download.
Click File and select Save as (Download As).
Select Download a copy from the options.
Once the file is downloaded, open it with the desktop version of Excel.
You can copy/paste the data without retrieving data errors.

For this step to work, you must have Microsoft Office installed on your computer. In case you donâ€™t have access to MS Office offline version, do the following.

Open the Play Store on your Android phone.
Search for Microsoft Excel.
Tap on Install to download and install the Excel app for your mobile.
Once installed, move the downloaded file to your smartphone and open it with the app.
You can make changes to the datasheet now without any error.

Deselect and reselect the data

In the Excel web app, deselect the select data that you are trying to copy/paste.
Deselect everything and then wait for a minute.|
Select the data you want to copy again and try pasting it into the external application.
When the Excel file completes sync, it should allow the user to paste the data without any error.
At times, it may take more than one attempt to resolve this error.

However, this is a temporary solution, and you may encounter this error in the future as well.

Change your web browser

The error Retrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again is most common on Internet Explorer.

If you don't have any data to lose, you can close the tab and then your browser. Afterward, launch a different browser and just open the file in the Excel web app.