Why is numbers crashing?

If I uninstall and reinstall, will I lose my files of spreadsheets?

In Numbers for MacOS, no, you don't lose your files if you uninstall Numbers and reinstall.

In Numbers for iOS, yes, you could lose files in some circumstances if you delete the app and re-download it.

However you are using Numbers, it is a good idea to have cloud storage and a backup system in place. Are you using Time Machine on the Mac? If so, you can go into it and 'restore' a previous version of a document that didn't crash. Also, keeping your documents in iCloud Drive is often a good strategy.

So if clearing out Numbers preferences files per Wayne's instructions doesn't work then you can consider these other approaches.

SG

You're giving us very little specific information here.

You're saying you have Time Machine and you can use it to "restore" an old version that doesn't crash, but when you add 2019 data to that version, that document starts crashing?

SG

It is possible that the preferences file for Numbers is corrupt. You should quit Numbers.

now, in the Finder, select the menu item "Go > Go To Folder…"

enter the path "~/Library/Preferences"

click the button "Go"

now locate the file:

"com.apple.iWork.Numbers.plist"

move this file to the trash-- do not empty the trash yet.

Now launch Numbers and try the problem file to see if Numbers still crashes.

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If this does not work, try moving the content of the old file to a new file:

I suggest opening the document that is crashing, then create a new document. copy the data from the old to the new, then save the new.

Now try to modify the new document.