How to Fix Excel Send Link Not Suggesting Email Addresses
Question details
Excel for Windows does not suggest matching names or email addresses when using the Send Link feature for personal OneDrive files.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Sharing a file stored on personal OneDrive using the 'Send Link' feature in the Excel desktop application.
- Observed behavior
- The email address lookup or auto-suggest functionality fails in the desktop application, although it functions correctly when used in Excel for the Web.
Ensure your Windows operating system and Microsoft 365 applications are fully updated to the latest versions before proceeding with these troubleshooting steps.
Check Trust Center Privacy Settings
Re-enabling optional connected experiences allows Office applications to connect to Microsoft online services, which is required for contact lookups.
Excel relies on online services to fetch email addresses from your account. If privacy settings restrict these connections, the auto-suggest feature will fail.
Launch Microsoft Excel for Windows, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Excel Options window, click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane, then click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.
Select 'Privacy Options' from the left menu, then click the 'Privacy Settings' button.
Scroll down to find 'Connected Experiences'. Ensure the box for 'Turn on experiences that download online content' or 'Turn on all connected experiences' is checked. Click 'OK' and restart Excel.
Reset the Outlook Auto-Complete List
Clearing a corrupted local email cache in Outlook can resolve address suggestion failures across Microsoft 365 desktop apps.
Run Microsoft 365 Repair
Use the built-in Windows repair tool to fix underlying software corruption in Microsoft 365.
Try WPS Office for Seamless File Sharing and Spreadsheet Management
If Microsoft Excel continues to experience connectivity bugs and sharing issues, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for managing and sharing your spreadsheets without complex online service dependencies.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set it up on your Windows PC.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly to resume working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does email auto-complete work in Excel for Web but not on desktop?
Excel for Web relies directly on server-side address books and real-time cloud syncing. The desktop version depends on local cache files and Trust Center privacy settings, which can occasionally become corrupted or restricted, causing the lookup to fail.
Will clearing the Outlook Auto-Complete list delete my saved contacts?
No, clearing the Auto-Complete list only removes the temporary cache of email addresses you have recently typed. Your saved address book and permanent contacts will remain completely unaffected.
What should I do if Office Repair doesn't fix the Send Link issue?
If both Quick Repair and Online Repair fail to resolve the issue, the problem might be tied to your specific Microsoft 365 subscription or a server-side bug. You should contact Microsoft Support and provide them with your Excel version, update channel, and account type for further assistance.
