OLAP Query stuck but only for some users.

Hi all,

I am at a point where I am kind of pulling my hair out.

We are using Microsoft Excel templates with a connection to semantic model(s). A few users both internal and external have been reporting issues of slow refreshes, filters or even expansion and collapses of pivot tables. However I am experiencing the same issues. One of my colleagues is as well, but another colleague (same location, same user rights, same laptop even) isn't experiencing any of these issues. He is on the same windows version, same excel version and is using the same file. He can simply click a slicer and it filters within seconds, where as for me and my other colleague it simply doesn't work.

I found this post online saying multiple users had this issue with a specific version of Excel: Power Query Failure After August 2025 Update - Microsoft Q&A

Disabling Subtotals and Grand Totals does work for us, this makes it so we can use the Excel template and pivot tables like we used to. But totals are necessary for us, so just a temporary fix.

Now comes the weird part. When I try the same file on a VM or a newly created account on my laptop and I login with the same Microsoft account and the same file, it seems to work perfectly and faster then ever before.

It almost seems like my account or login is corrupted? I have tried multiple different connection strings, none work. tried logging in and out of Office multiple times, re-installing, clearing all cache, even gone as far as deleting registry keys with a special tool, all to no avail.

I currently tried all the items below.

• ❌ Downgraded OLE DB driver from 19.4.1.0 to 18.7.4.0
• ❌ Upgraded Fabric capacity from F8 to F16
• ❌ Changed DNS servers to 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8
• ❌ Modified hosts file to force routing to Germany endpoint instead of West Europe
• ❌ Cleared Windows Credential Manager completely
• ❌ Cleared Excel cache folders (Wef, PowerQuery)
• ❌ Tested on different networks (office WiFi, home WiFi, mobile hotspot)
• ❌ Tested Excel in Safe Mode
• ❌ Verified correct authentication account ([email protected])
• ❌ Changed connection string parameters (timeouts, compression)
• ❌ Network adapter driver optimizations
• ❌ Disabled IPv6
• ❌ Removing personal account from laptop
• ❌ Re-installing office 365 completely with special tool
• ❌ Clearing all cache and temp folders
• ❌ Forced Windows 11 upgrade with Windows 11 Media Creation Tool
• ❌ Downgraded to Excel version 2507

The only fix so far seems creating an entire new user on my laptop, but this is by far a good option. And it won't be an option for a lot of our other users. Disabling grand totals and subtotals is a small hotfix, but for the long term this won't work. 

Does anyone have an idea what might cause this?