File Sharing Problems

How to Fix Linked Excel Object in PowerPoint Not Refreshing from SharePoint

Nimra Malik Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where a linked Excel object inside a PowerPoint presentation fails to refresh after the file is closed and reopened from SharePoint.

How to Fix Linked Excel Object in PowerPoint Not Refreshing from SharePoint

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Working with linked Excel data embedded in a PowerPoint presentation that is stored on SharePoint and synchronized via OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The linked Excel object refreshes successfully while both the Excel and PowerPoint files are open, but fails to update its links after PowerPoint is closed and subsequently reopened.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and that both the Excel workbook and PowerPoint presentation are fully synchronized with SharePoint or OneDrive without any pending upload errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Update the Linked Object

Use PowerPoint's built-in link updating tools to force a refresh of the Excel data from SharePoint.

Sometimes PowerPoint blocks automatic link updates for security reasons or fails to trigger the sync correctly when opening cloud-based files.

Accept the Update Prompt

When opening the PowerPoint presentation, click 'Update Links' if prompted by the security warning dialog box.

Update via Right-Click

Navigate to the slide containing the data, right-click the linked Excel object, and select 'Update Link' from the context menu.

Update via the File Menu

Go to 'File' > 'Info', click on 'Edit Links to Files' in the bottom right area, select the specific Excel link from the list, and click the 'Update Now' button.

Manual Refresh: Refreshing manually often resolves temporary synchronization delays between PowerPoint and SharePoint.

Solution 2

Recreate the Link with Paste Special

Recreating the link can establish a fresh connection if the link path is corrupted or points to a local cache instead of the SharePoint URL.

Solution 3

Contact Your IT Administrator

If the issue persists across new files, it may be caused by a tenant-level SharePoint or OneDrive sync configuration issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my linked Excel object stop refreshing when I reopen PowerPoint?

This typically happens when the file path relies on a local OneDrive cache path rather than the direct SharePoint web URL. Once the file is closed and the cache updates, PowerPoint struggles to resolve the localized path.

How do I check if my link is pointing to SharePoint or a local drive?

Go to File > Info > Edit Links to Files in PowerPoint. In this dialog, you can review the source path of each link to confirm whether it shows a SharePoint URL (starting with https://) or a local system path (starting with C:\).

Does recreating the link fix SharePoint sync issues permanently?

Yes, opening the SharePoint-hosted Excel file in the desktop app and using Paste Special > Paste Link often forces Office to establish a correct, absolute path to the cloud file, resolving the linking error.

Document & File Issues