Fix Excel Version History Not Updating for SharePoint Workbooks
Question details
Users are unable to view the latest version history of a SharePoint-hosted Excel workbook in the Excel desktop application, despite the complete version history being accessible in the browser.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Accessing and recovering version history for a collaborative workbook stored on SharePoint via the Excel desktop app.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel desktop application stops showing versions after a specific date and displays an error stating that it could not update the version history.
Open your workbook directly from SharePoint in your web browser to confirm that the latest version history is successfully saved on the server before troubleshooting the desktop app.
Clear the Office Document Cache in Excel
Clearing the local cache forces the Excel desktop application to fetch the most recent file version and history directly from SharePoint.
When Excel syncs files with SharePoint, it stores temporary data in the Office Document Cache. If this cache becomes corrupted or stops syncing, the desktop application fails to display newer version histories, even though the data exists on the cloud.
Launch the Excel desktop application and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Excel Options window, click on the 'Save' tab in the left-hand navigation pane and scroll down to locate the 'Cache Settings' section.
Check the box next to 'Delete files from the Office Document Cache when they are closed', then click the 'Delete cached files' button.
Close Excel completely. Reopen the application, navigate to 'File' > 'Open' > 'SharePoint', and open your workbook directly to verify the version history is updating.
Update Microsoft Office
Updating Office ensures you have the latest patches for known syncing and caching bugs affecting SharePoint integrations.
Experience Seamless Cloud Syncing and Version Control with WPS Office
If you frequently encounter caching bugs and version history syncing issues with Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with reliable built-in cloud backup and automatic version history tracking.
- 1. Download the Application: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing .xlsx workbooks.
- 3. Enable Version History: Log in to your WPS account to utilize WPS Cloud for automatic syncing and secure version history management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel version history only update in the SharePoint browser?
The browser accesses the live file directly on the SharePoint server, so it always displays the most up-to-date versions. The Excel desktop app relies on the local Office Document Cache, which can sometimes stop syncing or become corrupted, causing it to display outdated history.
Will deleting the Office Document Cache delete my SharePoint files?
No. Clearing the cache only removes temporary local copies of the files stored on your computer's hard drive to help the software run faster. Your actual files, data, and version histories remain safely untouched on the SharePoint server.
How do I check if my colleagues are affected by the same version history issue?
Ask your colleagues to open the identical SharePoint workbook in their Excel desktop application and click on the title bar or go to File > Info to view the Version History. If their list also stops at an old date but the browser shows newer versions, they will also need to clear their local Office Document Cache.
