Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Excel File Not Loading for Some SharePoint Users

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

An embedded Excel workbook in SharePoint displays correctly for certain users, but others encounter a sad-face error icon when trying to load the page.

Product: Microsoft Excel on SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating or viewing an embedded Excel workbook on a SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: Some users are unable to view the embedded Excel file and instead see a sad-face error icon, likely due to file access restrictions or incorrect embedding methods.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint site to verify and modify document access settings for affected users.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify File Permissions for Affected Users

Having access to a SharePoint page does not automatically grant access to the embedded files. You must verify permissions on the specific Excel workbook.

The most common reason for the sad-face error is that the user lacks permission to view the source file. If the Excel file is stored in a restricted folder or another site, users will fail to load the web part.

Locate the source file

Navigate to the SharePoint Document Library or OneDrive folder where the original Excel workbook is stored.

Open access settings

Click the three dots (ellipsis) next to the Excel file name and select 'Manage Access'.

Check user permissions

Review the list of users or groups with access. If the affected users are missing, click 'Grant Access' or 'Share'.

Grant necessary rights

Add the affected users' email addresses, set their permission level to 'View' or 'Edit', and apply the changes. Ask the users to refresh the SharePoint page.

Solution 2

Re-embed the File Using a Document Library

If the file was embedded using a direct URL or an unsupported iframe, uploading it to a SharePoint Document Library and using the official File Viewer web part provides better stability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do users see a sad-face icon on a SharePoint page instead of the Excel file?

This usually indicates a permission issue, a broken source link, or a browser security setting blocking cross-site tracking, which prevents the Excel web part from authenticating the user.

Do users need permissions for both the SharePoint page and the embedded file?

Yes. Accessing the SharePoint page only grants visibility to the page layout. Users must also have at least 'View' permissions for the specific Excel file stored in the document library.

What is the best way to embed an Excel file in SharePoint?

The most reliable method is to upload the workbook directly to the site's Document Library and use the native 'File Viewer' web part, rather than using standard HTML embed codes.

How can browser settings affect embedded Excel files in SharePoint?

If a user's browser blocks third-party cookies or cross-site tracking (common in Safari or strict privacy modes), SharePoint may fail to pass authentication tokens to the Excel Online viewer, resulting in a loading error.

Document & File Issues