Add or remove add-ins in Excel (2023)

Add-ins provide optional commands and functionality for Microsoft Excel. Add-ins are not readily available in Excel by default, so you must first install and (in some cases) activate them before you can use them.

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Some add-ins are built into Excel, such as Solver and the Analysis ToolPak. Additional plugins are available in the download center and must be downloaded and installed first. Finally, there are add-ons that are created by third parties, such as developers or software solution providers in your organization. These can be Component Object Model (COM) plugins, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) plugins, and DLL plugins. These plugins must also be installed to use them.

Most plugins can be divided into three different types:

Excel deliveriesThese typically include Excel add-ins (.xlam), Excel 97-2003 add-ins (.xla), or DLL add-ins (.xll), or are automation add-ins. Some Excel add-ins, such as the Solver and Analysis ToolPak, may be available when you install Excel or Microsoft Office. You usually only need to enable these plugins to use them.
plugins to downloadYou can download and install additional Excel add-insdownload fileswhich is Office.com.
custom accessoriesDevelopers and solution providers often design custom Component Object Model (COM) plug-ins, Automation plug-ins, VBA plug-ins, and XLL plug-ins. They must be installed to use.

After installing or activating an add-on, the add-on and its commands can be found in one of the following locations:

dataLet me underline. After installing and activating the Analysis ToolPak and the Solver plugin,Data analysisIthe solverThe command is available atanalyzesclub.
officiallyLet me underline. After installing and activating the euro currency tool,euro conversionIeuroThe command appears atsolutionclub.
accessoryLet me underline. Additional accessories may be addedaccessoryLet me underline. This tab is added to the ribbon when you install and activate the first plugin that appears on the ribbonaccessoryLet me underline. if you don't see itaccessorytab, you will need to close and restart Excel.

other additions likeprincipleTabs, available elsewhere in Excel, such as tabs on the ribbon or through macros or custom menus.

(Video) How to add & remove add-ins in excel

great:If you are a software developer, you can use this process to install or remove automated programs before designing installers and uninstallers for add-ons.

Activate the Excel add-in

clickdocumenttab, clickchoicesand then clickaccessorycategory.
See Also
Time formats in Excel: 12/24 hour, custom, default
from the insidegovernbox, clickExcel deliveriesand then clickto go.

thisaccessoryA dialog box appears.
from the insideadditional availablebox, check the box next to the plugin you want to enable and clickWell.

If you can't find the plugin you want to enableadditional availableframework, you may need to install it.

Install the Excel add-in

To install add-ins that are normally installed with Excel, such as Solver or the Analysis ToolPak, start the Excel or Microsoft Office installer and selectTo changeability to install the plugin. After restarting Excel, the add-in should appearadditional availableBox.
Some Excel add-ins reside on your computer and can be installed or activated with a single clicksearch(from the insideaccessorydialog box) locate the plugin and clickWell.
Some Excel add-ins require installation packages to run. You may need to download or copy the installation package (usually a file with an .msi file extension) to your computer and then run it.
You can download additional plugins that are not available on your computerdownload filesEither from another website on the Internet or from a server in your organization. Follow the setup instructions you received as needed.

Disable Excel add-ins

clickdocumenttab, clickchoicesand then clickaccessorycategory.
from the insidegovernbox, clickExcel deliveriesand then clickto go.
from the insideadditional availableuncheck the box next to the plugin you want to disable and clickWell.

In many cases, when you disable a plugin, it is removed from the ribbon group. In other cases, you may need to restart Excel to remove the add-in from the ribbon.

notesDisabling an add-on does not remove it from your computer. To remove an add-on from your computer, you must uninstall it.

Remove Excel add-ins

great:If you originally installed the Excel add-in from a network file server or shared folder, you may need to remove the add-in from that location. If you installed an Excel add-in from a CD, and after installing the add-in you map the CD drive to a new drive letter, you will need to reinstall the add-in from the CD. If you run Excel add-ins from the CD, you must uninstall the Excel add-ins and then reinstall them from the CD.

(Video) Install or remove add ins in Microsoft Excel

clickdocumenttab and then clickExit.
In the control panel, click onPrograms and features(Windows 7 and Windows Vista) iliAdd/Remove programs(Windows XP).
Do one of the following:
- If you installed Excel as part of Microsoft Office, clickthe Microsoft officeIn the list of installed programs and clickTo changebutton.
- If you installed Excel separately, click your program name in the list of installed programs, and then clickTo changebutton.
- If you installed a plug-in from the Download Center, click your program name in the list of installed programs, and then clickUninstallbutton.
Follow the instructions in the installer.

great:If you are a software developer, you can use this process to install or remove automated programs before designing installers and uninstallers for add-ons. If you are not a developer, you do not need to use this process. If you need installation and removal instructions, contact the system administrator who provided the add-on.

Add COM plugins

clickdocumenttab, clickchoicesand then clickaccessorycategory.
from the insidegovernbox, clickCOM pluginsand then clickto go.

thisCOM pluginsA dialog box appears.
from the insideadditional availableselect the check boxes next to the add-ons you want to install, and then clickWell.

adviceIf the plugin you want to use is not listed in theadditional availablebox, clickAdd toand find the plugin.

Remove COM plugins

clickdocumenttab, clickchoicesand then clickaccessorycategory.
from the insidegovernbox, clickCOM pluginsand then clickto go.

thisCOM pluginsA dialog box appears.
from the insideadditional availableclear the check box next to the add-in you want to remove, and then clickWell.

notesThis will remove the plugin from memory but keep its name in the list of available plugins. It will not remove add-ons from your computer.
(Video) Microsoft Excel - Simple Example how to Enable or Disable Add-Ins
To remove a COM plug-in from the list of available plug-ins and remove the plug-in from your computer, go toadditional availablebox and click oneliminate.

notes:If you are a software developer, you can use this process to install or remove automated programs before designing installers and uninstallers for add-ons. If you are not a developer, you do not need to use this process. If you need installation and removal instructions, contact the system administrator who provided the add-on.

clickdocumenttab, clickchoicesand then clickaccessorycategory.
from the insidegovernbox, clickExcel deliveriesand then clickto go.

thisaccessoryA dialog box appears.
To install the automation plugin, go toAutomation servers availablebox, clickautomationand then click the plugin you want.

adviceIf the plugin you need is not listed, click itsearch, find plugins and clickWell.
To remove an automation add-on, you must delete it from the registry. Contact your system administrator for details.