SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix Excel Online @Mentions Missing in SharePoint List Attachments

Olivia Miller Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use the @mentions feature to tag colleagues in an Excel workbook that is attached directly to a SharePoint list item.

How to Fix Excel Online @Mentions Missing in SharePoint List Attachments

Product: Excel Online / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to collaborate and tag team members using @mentions within an Excel file that was uploaded as an attachment to a SharePoint list.
Observed behavior: The @mentions and collaborative commenting features are completely missing or unavailable when opening the attached Excel file.

Before you start

Ensure you have the appropriate permissions to upload files to a SharePoint Document Library or OneDrive for Business, as resolving this requires changing where the file is hosted.

Solution 1Recommended

Store the Workbook in a Document Library and Link to It

Move your Excel file to a supported cloud storage location like a SharePoint Document Library, and link it to the list item instead of attaching it directly.

Excel files uploaded directly as attachments to SharePoint list items do not support advanced collaborative features like @mentions. To restore this functionality, the workbook must be stored in a location built for co-authoring, such as a SharePoint Document Library or OneDrive for Business.

Upload to Document Library

Navigate to your SharePoint site's Document Library or your OneDrive for Business, and upload the Excel workbook there.

Copy the File Link

Right-click the newly uploaded Excel file, select 'Copy link', and ensure the sharing permissions allow your team members to edit the file.

Edit the SharePoint List Item

Go back to your SharePoint list, select the list item you want to attach the file to, and click 'Edit'.

Paste Link Instead of Attaching

Instead of using the 'Attachments' field, paste the copied file link into a Hyperlink column or the item's multi-line text description, then save the item.

Store the Workbook in a Document Library and Link to It

Collaboration Restored: By opening the file via the shared link, users will now be able to co-author in real-time and successfully use the @mentions feature in comments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do @mentions work in some Excel Online files but not others?

The availability of the @mentions feature depends entirely on where the file is stored. Files stored in OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Document Libraries support @mentions natively. Files saved locally, in personal OneDrive accounts, or uploaded as direct attachments to SharePoint list items do not support this feature.

Can I use @mentions in an Excel file saved on my local computer?

No, the @mentions feature requires the document to be saved in a supported Microsoft cloud service (like SharePoint or OneDrive for Business) so that the system can notify the users you are tagging.

Will removing the direct attachment from my SharePoint list delete my data?

Removing the attachment deletes the file from that specific list item. Before removing it, ensure you have downloaded a copy of the Excel workbook and uploaded it safely to your Document Library.

Is there a way to force @mentions to work in list attachments?

Currently, Microsoft does not support collaborative commenting or @mentions for files directly attached to list items due to how attachment storage is architected in SharePoint. Using a Document Library link is the only official workaround.

Document & File Issues