File Sharing Problems

Fix PowerPoint SharePoint Links to Excel Not Updating Automatically

Steve K Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where embedded Excel links in a PowerPoint presentation fail to update automatically when both files are hosted on SharePoint.

Fix PowerPoint SharePoint Links to Excel Not Updating Automatically

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on and opening linked presentation and spreadsheet files stored in a SharePoint cloud environment.
Observed behavior: Links update successfully when files are stored locally, but automatic updating fails after the presentation is uploaded to and reopened from SharePoint.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed into the correct Microsoft 365 account in your Office applications and have active edit permissions for both the SharePoint folder and the linked Excel file.

Solution 1Recommended

Create Test Files and Escalate to Microsoft 365 Support

Determine if the issue is specific to your current files or a broader SharePoint service limitation by creating fresh test files before contacting your administrator.

SharePoint handles linked Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) objects differently than a local file system. If automatic updates are failing, it is crucial to isolate whether the original files are corrupted or if the tenant's SharePoint configuration requires backend diagnostics from Microsoft.

Create a new Excel file in SharePoint

Navigate to the same SharePoint document library using your web browser, click 'New', and select 'Excel workbook'. Add some simple test data to a few cells.

Create a new PowerPoint presentation

In the same SharePoint library, click 'New' and select 'PowerPoint presentation'. Open both the new presentation and the new Excel workbook in their respective desktop applications.

Paste link into PowerPoint

Copy the test data from the Excel desktop app. Switch to the PowerPoint desktop app, click the 'Home' tab, select the arrow under 'Paste', click 'Paste Special', choose 'Paste Link', and click 'OK'.

Test automatic updates

Save and close both files. Open the Excel file, change the test data, and close it. Reopen the PowerPoint presentation from SharePoint to see if the linked data updates automatically.

Escalate to administration

If the test presentation also fails to update automatically, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator and request that they open a formal support ticket with Microsoft to investigate the service configuration and collect diagnostic logs.

Create Test Files and Escalate to Microsoft 365 Support

Manual Update Workaround: While waiting for Microsoft Support to resolve the automatic update issue, you can manually update links by going to File > Info > Edit Links to Files, and clicking 'Update Now'.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for Reliable File Management

If you frequently experience cloud syncing and file linking issues with Microsoft Office and SharePoint, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight alternative with its own robust cloud storage ecosystem for seamless cross-device collaboration.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Enable WPS Cloud: Sign in with your email or third-party account to automatically activate 1GB of free WPS Cloud storage for reliable file syncing.
3. Open Your Existing Files: Simply drag and drop your existing .pptx and .xlsx files into WPS Office to continue working seamlessly with full format compatibility.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) and Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Integrated WPS Cloud for reliable file syncing and sharing without complex link breakage.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on almost any hardware.Familiar user interface that requires zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Excel links work locally but break on SharePoint?

Local links use absolute or relative file paths (like C:\Documents) on your hard drive, whereas SharePoint uses web-based URLs (HTTPS). Desktop applications sometimes struggle to automatically resolve, authenticate, and sync these cloud URLs in the background upon opening.

Can I manually update the Excel links in my PowerPoint presentation?

Yes. You can manually force an update by opening your presentation, clicking the 'File' tab, selecting 'Info', scrolling down to click 'Edit Links to Files' in the bottom right corner, selecting the linked Excel file, and clicking 'Update Now'.

Does co-authoring affect linked Excel files in SharePoint?

Yes. If another user has the linked Excel file open and is actively editing it, SharePoint may place a temporary lock on the file. This can prevent PowerPoint from fetching the latest data automatically until the other user saves and closes their session.

How do I correctly link an Excel chart to PowerPoint when using SharePoint?

It is best practice to open both files directly from your locally synced SharePoint folder using OneDrive. Copy the chart in Excel, switch to PowerPoint, click the 'Home' tab, open the 'Paste' dropdown menu, and select 'Keep Source Formatting & Link Data'.

Document & File Issues