Microsoft Excel iOS App Plunged Into Chaos Following Problematic Update

Widespread Excel iOS Malfunctions

Microsoft Excel for iOS and iPadOS has been experiencing severe stability issues for the past week, with numerous users reporting the application hanging or crashing repeatedly, according to multiple customer reports. The problems appear to have originated following the release of Excel version 2.102.1 for iOS and iPadOS on October 13, 2025, which introduced support for Apple’s Liquid Glass design framework.

Widespread Excel iOS Malfunctions
Broken Core Functionality
Mounting User Frustration
Community Backlash and Criticism
Broader Software Quality Concerns
Ongoing Resolution Efforts

Broken Core Functionality

Sources indicate that the “+ Create” icon, essential for starting new spreadsheets, has become completely unresponsive to touch inputs in the malfunctioning version. This critical failure prevents users from creating new documents from the provided template menu, effectively rendering the application useless for many basic tasks., according to expert analysis

Testing conducted by The Register confirmed these issues, with Excel version 2.102.2 also proving non-functional despite being released three days after the problematic update. Microsoft’s release notes promised “optimized performance” and “smoother navigation,” but users report the opposite experience, with many unable to access their content at all.

Mounting User Frustration

User complaints have been escalating across multiple platforms since the issues emerged. An October 17, 2025 Microsoft forum post titled “iOS Excel app not working” described how the app “struggles when I search for text in spreadsheets” and “starts to hang and freeze.” Similar reports have appeared in forum posts with titles including “Last update Excel is a disaster on iOS,” “Excel and Office documents freezing on iPhone,” and “None of my 365 apps are working on iPadOS 26.”

Apple App Store reviews echo these complaints, with user Bujax99 writing on October 20, 2025: “Completely unusable after the latest update to iOS 26. I can’t even work on any file without the app just freezing after the first interaction.”, according to market insights

Community Backlash and Criticism

A Reddit thread has aggregated numerous complaints describing screen freezes and network disconnection issues. Thread author “hkgmaths” criticized Microsoft for allowing the problem to persist for days without providing workarounds or a timeline for resolution., according to market analysis

“This has been the gold standard in customer service at Microsoft as usual, where ‘prompt response’ means ‘eternal radio silence,'” the user wrote, adding sarcastically: “Why beta-test when you can alpha-bomb live users and watch them scramble.”

Broader Software Quality Concerns

Analysts suggest these Excel issues reflect broader concerns about declining software quality across the industry. Some developers attribute quality problems to factors including outsourcing, cost reduction measures, aggressive deadlines, and the increasing use of AI in coding. Microsoft has reportedly indicated that approximately 30 percent of recent code for some projects was written by AI, according to CEO Satya Nadella.

The company has previously reported correlations between developer satisfaction and code quality, as well as between code ownership and software quality. However, industry observers note that layoffs of software testers in 2018 and more recent developer reductions may be counterproductive to maintaining software quality standards.

Ongoing Resolution Efforts

Microsoft has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the Excel iOS issues. Users continue to seek solutions through community forums and alternative applications while awaiting an official fix. The situation highlights the challenges large software companies face in maintaining quality across multiple platforms and operating system versions, particularly with the rapid integration of new design frameworks like Apple’s Liquid Glass.

For users experiencing similar issues, some community suggestions include checking the reported iOS 26 bugs and issues with fixes that may interact with Excel’s functionality, though no specific workaround for the Excel problems has been officially confirmed.