Since the release of Microsoft Office updates in June 2025, users have been experiencing significant performance issues with Excel. The software either freezes upon startup or takes an unusually long time to open and close, causing frustration among users trying to maintain productivity. According to reports, one potential cause could be Trend Micro’s Worry-Free Business Security (WFBS) version 6.7.3981/14.3.1311.
The issue was first brought to light when a user contacted me via email about the week of June 2025, only for their message to land in my spam folder. The customer shared that multiple clients had complained about slow opening and closing times as well as reduced performance within Excel. This problem also coincided with several complaints on Reddit forums regarding similar issues after installing updates.
Additionally, a post on a Reddit forum titled “Excel Slow / Locking – June 2025” provided detailed insights from an affected user who experienced freezing of Microsoft Excel 365 Enterprise following the monthly Patch Tuesday update. The user reported that removing Adobe PDF Maker from their system had drastically reduced Excel’s startup time from thirty seconds to just two seconds, suggesting a direct correlation between this add-in and Excel performance issues.
Further investigation led to identifying another potential culprit: Trend Micro’s WFBS software in version 6.7.3981/14.3.1311. When users deactivated the PDF Maker plugin but continued experiencing slowness, they discovered that uninstalling or updating Trend Micro’s security solution resolved the problem entirely.
The Reddit thread on the issue highlighted that once WFBS was updated to a later version—specifically 6.7.3981/14.3.1299—the freezing of Excel stopped occurring. Users noted an immediate improvement in performance, indicating a critical role played by this security software in hindering Excel’s optimal functionality.
Third-party reports and forums such as Reddit have corroborated the findings, with numerous users confirming similar experiences post June 2025 updates. These platforms not only share user accounts of experiencing freezes but also propose potential solutions ranging from disabling Adobe PDF Maker to ensuring Trend Micro WFBS is up-to-date or uninstalled.
These collective insights underscore a growing concern among Excel users and IT professionals about the compatibility issues between Microsoft Office products and certain third-party software solutions. The community-driven troubleshooting efforts suggest that addressing these problems requires both technical expertise and proactive communication between software developers and end-users.
Third-Party Reports on Excel Performance Issues Post June 2025 Updates
Similar questions
What updates were released in June 2025 that caused Excel performance issues?
Why did the user’s email about the issue go to your spam folder?
How long does it take for Excel to open and close after installing Trend Micro’s WFBS version 6.7.3981/14.3.1311?
What is Adobe PDF Maker and how does it affect Excel performance?
Did removing the PDF Maker plugin solve all users’ problems with Excel performance?
Why did updating Trend Micro’s WFBS software to a later version fix the issue?
Which version of WFBS was updated that stopped Excel from freezing?
How do you check if your system has Trend Micro’s WFBS installed?
Is there any other security software besides Trend Micro’s WFBS that can cause issues with Excel performance?
What should users do if they continue experiencing Excel performance problems after updating or uninstalling Trend Micro’s WFBS?