File Cannot Open

Fix Excel Error: Workbook Is Deleted or Not Accessible on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users encounter an error stating 'Workbook is deleted or currently not accessible' when trying to open Excel workbooks on a Mac, typically when the file is an Outlook attachment.

Product: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Opening an Excel workbook directly from an Outlook email attachment on a Mac.
Observed behavior: Excel displays an error message indicating that the workbook is deleted or unavailable, preventing the user from viewing or editing the attached file.

Before you start

Ensure that Microsoft Outlook is running and that you have not recently emptied your Mac's Trash, as the system's temporary attachment files might have been accidentally cleared.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate the File in the Outlook Temporary Folder

Find the hidden temporary folder where Outlook saves attachments to check if the file still exists on your Mac and open it directly.

Open 'Go to Folder' in Finder

Open Finder on your Mac and press the keyboard shortcut 'Shift + Command + G' to launch the 'Go to Folder' search bar.

Navigate to the Outlook Temp Directory

Type the exact file path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/tmp/Outlook Temp and press Return.

Open the Target Workbook

Look for your missing Excel file in this temporary directory. If the file exists, double-click to open it directly or try opening it from Excel's 'Recent' file list.

Hidden Library Folder: The Library folder is hidden by default on Mac OS. Using the Shift+Command+G shortcut bypasses the hidden status so you can directly access the folder path.

Solution 2

Reopen the Attachment Directly from Outlook

If the temporary file is missing or corrupted, the easiest and most reliable method is to fetch a fresh copy directly from the original email.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel say my file is deleted or not accessible?

This error usually happens on a Mac when you try to open an Excel file from an Outlook attachment, and the file gets purged from the temporary Outlook folder or its permissions are restricted by the system.

How can I prevent Outlook attachments from getting lost?

Instead of opening attachments directly from the email message, right-click the attachment and choose 'Save As'. Save the file to a permanent directory like your Mac's Desktop or Documents folder before opening it.

Where is the Outlook temporary folder located on a Mac?

The default path for Outlook temporary files is ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/tmp/Outlook Temp. You can quickly access it by opening Finder and pressing Shift+Command+G to enter the path.

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