File Format & Compatibility

Fix "Object Not Found" Error for Linked Word and Excel Files

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 8, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an error where linked objects between Word and Excel files cannot be found or opened.

Fix "Object Not Found" Error for Linked Word and Excel Files

Product: Microsoft Word and Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on files stored in shared folders (like Dropbox) using different versions of Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365.
Observed behavior: When attempting to open or update a linked Word or Excel object, the application displays an "Object Not Found" error, even though the source files remain in their original shared folders.

Before you start

Ensure your shared cloud storage folders (such as Dropbox) are fully synced on your device, and verify that all users are editing the files from identical local file paths.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Folder Access and Update File Links

Ensure all collaborators have access to the same shared folders and manually update the link paths to match the current local directory.

Cloud storage services like Dropbox map to individual user profiles (e.g., C:\Users\Username\Dropbox). If collaborators have different usernames, the absolute file path changes, causing the linked object to break.

Check the local file path

Open your File Explorer, navigate to the shared Dropbox folder containing the source file, and copy the exact folder path from the address bar.

Open Edit Links in Word/Excel

Open the document with the broken linked object. Go to the 'File' menu, select 'Info', and click on 'Edit Links to Files' in the bottom right corner of the Info pane.

Change the link source

In the Links dialog box, select the broken link from the list, click 'Change Source', navigate to the correct local path you verified earlier, and click 'Open'.

Update the link

Click 'Update Now' to refresh the object data, then click 'OK' to close the dialog box.

Verify Folder Access and Update File Links

Relative Paths: To prevent this issue in the future, keep both the source file and the destination file in the exact same shared folder so that relative pathing can maintain the link regardless of the user profile.

Solution 2

Recreate the Linked Object

Use this solution if the existing link has become deeply corrupted due to editing conflicts between Microsoft 365 and older Office versions.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft Technical Support

If links continue to break automatically across different Microsoft 365 subscriptions, contact official support to resolve account or version conflicts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Collaboration

Avoid complex version compatibility bugs and broken object links. WPS Office provides a lightweight, unified suite for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint tasks with deep compatibility for Microsoft file formats.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your device.
2. Open your shared files: Launch WPS Office and open your synchronized Dropbox or cloud folders directly from the workspace.
3. Collaborate easily: Edit and save your documents without worrying about broken links caused by differing software subscription versions.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word and Excel file formats (.docx, .xlsx)Unified lightweight app allows seamless switching between documents and spreadsheetsStable performance for editing files in shared cloud storage foldersFree to download and easy to use with a familiar user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do links break when switching from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365?

Different Office versions sometimes handle Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) paths and registry keys differently. When files are opened and saved across mixed environments, the background link metadata can become corrupted, resulting in the Object Not Found error.

Does saving files in Dropbox cause the Object Not Found error?

Not directly, but cloud storage services like Dropbox sync files to a local path containing the specific computer's username. If the linked object uses an absolute path (e.g., C:\Users\UserA\Dropbox), 'UserB' will experience a broken link because their path is C:\Users\UserB\Dropbox.

How can I check if a linked object has the wrong file path?

In Word or Excel, go to File > Info and click on 'Edit Links to Files'. This will display a list of all embedded objects and the exact file paths the application is trying to access. You can easily spot if it is pointing to an outdated folder or a different user's drive.

Document & File Issues