SharePoint Document Issues

How to Troubleshoot Excel Objects Not Refreshing in PowerPoint

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Linked Excel tables and charts embedded in PowerPoint presentations refresh inconsistently or fail to update when the files are hosted in SharePoint or Teams.

How to Troubleshoot Excel Objects Not Refreshing in PowerPoint

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Multiple users are co-authoring a PowerPoint presentation that relies on data linked from an Excel workbook stored in a shared network location.
Observed behavior: The embedded Excel objects do not pull the latest data from the source workbook, often displaying outdated information or throwing link errors.

Before you start

Verify that all users have the same access permissions to the shared SharePoint or Teams folder where both the presentation and the source Excel file are saved.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Links via the PowerPoint Desktop Application

Opening the file in the desktop app allows you to manually manage and force-update broken or stalled links.

Web versions of Office applications have limitations when handling complex OLE links. Using the desktop client ensures you have full access to link management tools.

Open in Desktop App

Navigate to your file in SharePoint or Teams, click the three dots next to the file name, and select 'Open in Desktop App'.

Access Edit Links

In PowerPoint, go to the 'File' tab on the ribbon, select 'Info', and look for 'Edit Links to Files' in the bottom right corner.

Update or Change Source

Select the problematic Excel link in the dialog box and click 'Update Now'. If the file was moved, click 'Change Source' to navigate to its new location in SharePoint.

Update Links via the PowerPoint Desktop Application

Check Source File Location: Ensure the source Excel workbook has not been renamed or moved to a different SharePoint directory, as this instantly breaks the link.

Solution 2

Standardize Office Versions Across the Team

Mismatched Office versions among co-authors can cause link synchronization issues.

Solution 3

Test with Local Copies

Isolate the issue by downloading the files to a local drive to see if SharePoint synchronization is the root cause.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Sync Issues with WPS Office

If complex SharePoint links and co-authoring bugs in Microsoft Office slow down your workflow, WPS Office offers a highly compatible, lightweight, and reliable alternative for handling spreadsheets and presentations.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and follow the easy installation prompts.
2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Presentation and WPS Spreadsheet to open your existing .pptx and .xlsx files seamlessly.
3. Manage Linked Data: Easily copy data from WPS Spreadsheet and use 'Paste Special' > 'Paste Link' in WPS Presentation for stable data syncing.

Free, lightweight, and fast-loading office suiteExcellent compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) and Excel (.xlsx) formatsFamiliar user interface requires no learning curveStable local file linking and object embedding

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Excel links break when I move files in SharePoint?

Moving or renaming a file in SharePoint changes its file path. PowerPoint relies on the exact file path to locate the source data. When the path changes, the link breaks and needs to be manually updated via the 'Edit Links' menu.

Can I force a manual refresh of Excel objects in PowerPoint?

Yes. Right-click the linked Excel object on your PowerPoint slide and select 'Update Link'. Alternatively, go to 'File' > 'Info' > 'Edit Links to Files', select the link, and click 'Update Now'.

Does co-authoring affect object links in PowerPoint?

Yes, simultaneous editing by multiple users (co-authoring) can sometimes cause synchronization conflicts, especially if users are on different versions of Office or if someone is attempting to update links using the web version instead of the desktop app.

Document & File Issues