Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Cannot Delete Wisesheets.xlsx Add-In File in Excel

Olivia Miller Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to delete the Wisesheets.xlsx add-in file from their Excel application or mobile phone.

How to Fix Cannot Delete Wisesheets.xlsx Add-In File in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to completely remove a residual add-in file after the main add-in has been uninstalled or is no longer needed.
Observed behavior: Excel or the device prevents the deletion of the Wisesheets.xlsx file, likely due to background syncing, open connections, or file permission locks.

Before you start

Make sure to completely close the Excel application on all of your devices, including your smartphone and any other computers, to ensure the file is not currently locked by an active background process.

Solution 1Recommended

Fully Uninstall Add-in and Delete from Storage

Ensure the add-in is completely uninstalled from within Excel before attempting to delete the residual file directly from your storage location.

Often, simply deleting the file from your folder isn't enough if Excel still recognizes the add-in. You must first remove the add-in configuration from the Excel application.

Remove the Add-in within Excel

Open Excel, navigate to the 'Insert' tab, and click on 'My Add-ins' or 'Get Add-ins'. Locate the Wisesheets add-in, click the options menu (three dots), and select 'Remove'.

Locate the File

Open your File Explorer or Finder and navigate to the directory where Wisesheets.xlsx is saved (such as your Documents, Downloads, or a specific OneDrive folder).

Delete and Clear Recycle Bin

Select the Wisesheets.xlsx file, press the Delete key on your keyboard, and then right-click your Recycle Bin or Trash to permanently empty it.

Fully Uninstall Add-in and Delete from Storage

Tip: If you are doing this on a phone, use your device's native File Manager or the OneDrive app to locate and delete the file, rather than trying to delete it from inside the mobile Excel app.

Solution 2

Stop Cloud Sync and Adjust File Permissions

If the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, sync issues or shared permissions might prevent you from deleting it.

Solution 3

Clear Excel Startup Folders

The file might be stuck in Excel's automated startup folder, causing it to run automatically in the background every time Excel is launched.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel say a file is in use when I try to delete it?

This usually happens when the file is actively open on another device, running as a hidden background process, or locked by a cloud syncing service like OneDrive or SharePoint. Closing all Excel instances fully can release the lock.

Can I delete an Excel add-in file directly from my phone?

Yes, but you generally cannot do this from within the Excel mobile application. You must use your phone's built-in File Manager app or your cloud storage app (like the OneDrive app) to locate the .xlsx file and delete it there.

Where are Excel add-in files typically stored on Windows?

Excel add-ins are frequently stored in default system folders. Common locations include the Microsoft Add-ins folder (%appdata%\Microsoft\AddIns) or the Excel startup folder (%appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART).

Does uninstalling an add-in automatically delete its Excel file?

Not always. While removing the add-in from Excel's 'My Add-ins' menu breaks the connection, any template files or workbooks generated by the add-in (like Wisesheets.xlsx) will often remain on your local drive and must be deleted manually.

Document & File Issues