Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again – Excel error

Microsoft Excel is one of the most used software in a computer on a daily basis. It is also available online through excel online, Office 365, and as Excel Web App. This Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds error occurs when you are using Microsoft Excel program and trying to copy large amounts of data from it and pasting it on another file.

Sometimes the error will also be like “Please wait while we retrieve data”

Let’s learn why this error occurs and how to fix this.

Why you get this Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds error?

If you want to copy the data from the online version of excel to any applications on your computer or to other online spreadsheet software, sometimes you will get an error called “Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again”.

We will show how to fix this Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds with the below step-by-step tutorial.

How to fix Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds Error

Follow the below methods one by one until the error is fixed.

Method 1: Open the Excel file in another browser

If you are facing a “Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again” problem in Edge or Internet Explorer browser, try opening the excel file in different browsers like chrome or Firefox.

Some people find that the problem will come while using excel only on internet explorer and Edge browsers only. If this din’t work, try the next method.

Method 2: Download & Open Excel file in Offline Excel Software

If you are still facing the “Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again” issue on the Online Excel, simply download an offline copy of the file and open it on your offline excel software.

Method 3: Check and fix your internet connection

Make sure that your computer / laptop connected with working internet connection. If you are facing any internet connection, try to fix it before opening the excel file.

Method 4: Split up Excel File if its large

  1. If your excel file is too large, then split the excel file into multiple files based on the file size.
  2. If your file size is 1GB, then split them into ten files each with 100MB of data.
  3. Now open these small files in the Excel program or google docs spreadsheet.
  4. Now try to copy the data on the excel file again.
  5. You won’t be facing the Error retrieving data when you copy the data from the excel file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fix retrieving data wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again?

To fix the retrieving data wait a few seconds error on excel or spreadsheet file, try clearing up your browser cache if you are using a browser or try to make space on the hard disk on your computer.

Why does excel say retrieving data?

The Microsoft Excel software program will say retrieving data when it is unable to retrieve the copied data from the other excel file you are trying to copy from due to high memory usage or the data being too much for the excel software to handle.

Hope you were able to fix this Retrieving Data, Wait a few seconds Error with the help of our tutorial and were able to copy and paste your excel data without facing the error.

Do let us know your comments below if you are still facing the excel issue.

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