How to fix 'There is not enough memory or disk space to complete the operation'
Jul 30, 2025 am 01:39 AMClose unnecessary programs and files to free up memory, especially in Excel where large or multiple workbooks can trigger the error despite sufficient system resources. 2. Free up disk space by ensuring at least 10–20% of the system drive is available, using Disk Cleanup, and removing or moving large files. 3. Increase virtual memory by manually setting the page file size to 1.5 times RAM for initial and 3 times for maximum size after disabling automatic management. 4. Disable add-ins in Office applications through File → Options → Add-ins to identify if a faulty add-in is causing memory issues. 5. Work with smaller data chunks by splitting large Excel files, using Power Query or Access, or saving in .xlsb format for better performance. 6. Repair the Office installation via Settings → Apps → Microsoft Office → Modify → Quick or Online Repair to fix corrupted files. 7. Check if you are using 32-bit Office, which limits RAM usage to ~2GB, and switch to 64-bit if your system supports it, after verifying add-in compatibility. 8. Clear temporary files from %temp%, C:\Temp, and C:\Windows\Temp to remove clutter that may interfere with operations. Restarting the computer, saving work frequently, and keeping Office and Windows updated are essential final steps. This error is often due to resource management issues rather than actual lack of memory or disk space, so starting with closing apps, restarting, and verifying the Office bit version resolves most cases.
The error "There is not enough memory or disk space to complete the operation" commonly appears in Microsoft Office (especially Excel), but can also occur in other applications. It’s often misleading — sometimes you do have enough RAM or disk space, but the software can't access it properly. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Close Unnecessary Programs and Files
This is the simplest and most effective first step.
- Multiple open apps or large files consume memory.
- In Excel, having many workbooks open (especially large ones) can trigger this error even if your system seems fine.
What to do:

- Close unused programs and background apps.
- Restart the application (e.g., Excel) and try the operation again.
- If working with large files, split them into smaller chunks.
2. Free Up Disk Space
Even if you think you have enough space, Windows and Office need free space for temporary files and virtual memory.
Recommended:

- Ensure at least 10–20% of your drive is free, especially on the system (C:) drive.
- Use Disk Cleanup:
- Press
Win S
, type Disk Cleanup, and run it. - Select your system drive (usually C:).
- Clean up temporary files, system files, and empty the Recycle Bin.
- Press
Also consider:
- Moving large files (videos, backups) to an external drive.
- Uninstalling unused programs.
3. Increase Virtual Memory (Page File)
Windows uses virtual memory (page file) to supplement RAM. If it's too small or disabled, you’ll get memory-related errors.
Steps to adjust virtual memory:
- Press
Win Pause/Break
→ Advanced system settings. - Under Performance, click Settings.
- Go to the Advanced tab → click Change under Virtual Memory.
- Uncheck Automatically manage paging file.
- Select your system drive (usually C:).
- Choose Custom size:
- Initial size: 1.5 × your RAM (e.g., 16 GB RAM → 24576 MB)
- Maximum size: 3 × your RAM (e.g., 49152 MB)
- Click Set, then OK, and restart your PC.
? Note: Letting Windows manage it is usually fine, but manually setting it can help in edge cases.
4. Disable Add-ins (Especially in Office)
Faulty or bloated add-ins can cause memory issues.
In Excel/Word:
- Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
- At the bottom, select COM Add-ins → click Go.
- Uncheck all → click OK.
- Restart the app and test the operation.
- Re-enable add-ins one by one to find the culprit.
5. Work with Smaller Data Chunks
If you're dealing with large datasets (e.g., 50k rows in Excel), the app may struggle even on powerful machines.
Try:
- Breaking large Excel files into smaller workbooks.
- Using Power Query or Access for heavy data processing.
- Saving as
.xlsb
(binary format) to reduce file size and improve performance.
6. Repair Office Installation
Corrupted Office files can trigger false memory/disk errors.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Office, click the three dots → Modify.
- Choose Repair (try "Quick Repair" first, then "Online Repair" if needed).
- Restart your computer after repair.
7. Check for 32-bit vs 64-bit Office
The 32-bit version of Office is limited to ~2 GB of RAM per process, making it prone to memory errors with large files.
To check:
- Open Excel → File → Account → About Excel.
- Look for "32-bit" or "64-bit".
? Solution: Uninstall 32-bit Office and install the 64-bit version (if your Windows is 64-bit — most are).
?? Note: Some add-ins or older macros may not work in 64-bit. Test compatibility first.
8. Clear Temporary Files
Too many temp files can clog up space and interfere with operations.
How to clear:
- Press
Win R
, type%temp%
, press Enter. - Select all files (
Ctrl A
) → Delete (Shift Delete
). - Skip any that are in use.
Also clear:
-
C:\Temp
(if exists) C:\Windows\Temp
Final Tips
- Restart your computer — clears RAM and resets temporary states.
- Save frequently — reduces risk of crashes during large operations.
- Update Office and Windows — fixes known bugs.
Basically, this error is often about available resources rather than total resources. Even with 16GB RAM and 100GB free space, poorly managed memory or bloated processes can trigger it. Start simple: close apps, restart, and check Office bit version. That solves most cases.
The above is the detailed content of How to fix 'There is not enough memory or disk space to complete the operation'. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

Hot Topics

System restore point setting methods include manual creation, dependency automatic creation, and management of storage space. 1. Manual creation requires system protection to enable in "Create Restore Point", allocate 5% disk space and click "Create" to name the restore point; 2. The system will automatically create restore points when installing updates or changing settings, but do not guarantee comprehensiveness; 3. The restore point occupies no more than 5% of the system disk space by default, and the old version will be automatically cleaned, and storage can be managed by adjusting the upper limit.

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls network traffic through predefined rules to protect computers or networks from unauthorized access. Its core functions include: 1. Check the source, destination address, port and protocol of the data packet; 2. Determine whether to allow connections based on trust; 3. Block suspicious or malicious behavior; 4. Support different types such as packet filtering firewalls, status detection firewalls, application layer firewalls and next-generation firewalls; 5. Users can enable built-in firewalls through operating system settings, such as Windows Security Center or macOS system preferences; 6. The firewall should be used in combination with other security measures such as strong passwords and update software to enhance protection.

If you want to remotely turn off the router Wi-Fi, you must first confirm whether the router supports remote management; if it does not support it, it can be achieved through a smart socket power outage; advanced users can also consider flashing in custom firmware. The specific steps are as follows: 1. Check whether the router has remote management functions, such as the manufacturer's supporting app or cloud management functions; 2. If it is not supported, purchase and set up a smart socket and remotely cut off power through its app; 3. For technical users, you can install firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWRT to obtain remote control permissions. Different methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Please weigh them according to your own needs when choosing.

When encountering the blue screen error VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE(nvlddmkm.sys), priority should be given to troubleshooting graphics card driver or hardware problems. 1. Update or rollback the graphics card driver: automatically search and update through the device manager, manually install or roll back to the old stable driver using NVIDIA official website tools; 2. Adjust the TDR mechanism: Modify the TdrDelay value in the registry to extend the system waiting time; 3. Check the graphics card hardware status: monitor the temperature, power supply, interface connection and memory module; 4. Check system interference factors: run sfc/scannow to repair system files, uninstall conflicting software, and try safe mode startup to confirm the root cause of the problem. In most cases, the driver problem is first handled. If it occurs repeatedly, it needs to be further deepened.

To prevent specific programs from being connected to the network can be achieved through system firewalls or third-party tools. 1. Windows users can use their own firewall, create new rules in the "outbound rules" to select the program path and set "block connection"; 2. Third-party tools such as GlassWire or NetBalancer provide graphical interfaces that are more convenient to operate, but pay attention to source reliability and performance impact; 3. Mac users can control networking permissions through the command line with pfctl or using LittleSnitch and other tools; 4. A more thorough way is to use the network outage policy. The whitelisting policy prohibits all programs from being connected to the network by default and only allows trusted programs to access. Although the operation modes of different systems are different, the core logic is consistent, and attention should be paid to the details of the path and scope of the rules taking effect.

UAC frequently pops up because the running program requires administrator permissions or the system setting level is too high. Common reasons include installation of software, modifying system settings, running third-party tools and other operation triggers. If using an administrator account, UAC only confirms the operation and not blocks. The methods for reducing prompts include: canceling the program to run as an administrator, lowering the UAC notification level, using a standard user account, and starting the program through the task planner. It is not recommended to turn off UAC completely because it can effectively prevent malicious programs from tampering with the system. You can set the UAC to "notify only when the program changes the computer" to balance security and experience.

The Facebook name change process is simple, but you need to pay attention to the rules. First, log in to the application or web version and go to "Settings and Privacy" > "Settings" > "Personal Information" > "Name", enter a new name, and save it; secondly, you must use your real name, it cannot be modified frequently within 60 days, it cannot contain special characters or numbers, and it cannot be impersonated by others, and the review does not pass the auxiliary verification such as uploading ID cards; it usually takes effect within a few minutes to 3 working days after submission; finally, the name change will not notify friends, the homepage name will be updated simultaneously, and the old name will still be displayed in the history record.

Updating the wireless router firmware is necessary and easy to operate. 1. Updates can fix vulnerabilities, improve performance, and add functions; 2. Check and updates can be manually operated through the management interface; 3. During updates, you need to ensure stable power supply, use wired connections, avoid interruptions, and confirm model matching; 4. Some brands support automatic updates, and update once or twice a year.