File Format & Compatibility

How to Preserve Excel Formatting and ActiveX Controls Between Office 2019 and Microsoft 365

Camila Milosovich Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience unexpected formatting loss and interactive elements turning into static pictures when processing newer Excel templates through legacy backend systems.

How to Preserve Formatting and ActiveX Controls Between Excel 2019 and Microsoft 365

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Processing Microsoft 365 Excel templates through a .NET website or backend library that is only fully compatible with the Excel 2019 format.
Observed behavior: Applied cell formatting is stripped or altered, and interactive ActiveX controls are downgraded to static images in the generated output file.

Before you start

Before modifying your Excel settings, check the exact version of the .NET library you are using to process the templates and review its official documentation regarding Microsoft 365 format support.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable ActiveX Controls in Microsoft 365 Trust Center

ActiveX controls may be disabled by default for security in Microsoft 365, causing them to render as static images when the document is processed or opened.

If the ActiveX settings in the target Microsoft 365 environment are set to restrict execution, the application will default to displaying a non-interactive image placeholder for safety.

Access Excel Options

Open Microsoft Excel and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Trust Center

In the Excel Options dialog box, click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane, and then click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.

Adjust ActiveX Settings

Select 'ActiveX Settings' from the left menu. Choose the option to enable controls, such as 'Prompt me before enabling all controls with minimal restrictions', and click 'OK' to save.

Enable ActiveX Controls in Microsoft 365 Trust Center

Security Warning: Only enable ActiveX controls if you completely trust the source of the Excel documents, as malicious controls can pose a security risk to your system.

Solution 2

Run the Excel Compatibility Checker

Identify exactly which formatting features or objects in your Microsoft 365 file are unsupported by the older Excel 2019 format standards.

Solution 3

Update the Template-Generation Library

If the backend .NET library strictly converts files to Excel 2019 formats, upgrading the library is required to preserve Microsoft 365-specific structures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do ActiveX controls turn into images when processed by older software?

When a newer file format containing ActiveX controls is processed by a library or opened in a version that lacks full support for those specific controls, the software converts them to static images. This acts as a fallback mechanism to preserve the visual layout of the document while disabling the unsupported interactive elements.

Does Microsoft 365 still support ActiveX controls?

Yes, Microsoft 365 still supports ActiveX controls, but they are often disabled by default in the Trust Center. Microsoft implemented this restriction to prevent potentially malicious code from automatically executing when a file is opened.

How can I avoid formatting loss when sharing Excel files between different versions?

To minimize formatting loss, stick to standard styling features and avoid using the newest charts or dynamic array formulas if you know the file will be processed by older software. Always run the Compatibility Checker (File > Info > Check for Issues) before distributing the file to ensure backward compatibility.

Document & File Issues