File Format & Compatibility

Why Does an Excel File Show an Unknown Author Name?

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user noticed that an Excel workbook sent from a Mac via Yahoo email displays an unrecognized author name on the receiving computer, which raised concerns about a potential security compromise.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: Mac, receiving device OS not provided
Scenario: Sending an Excel workbook via email and opening it on a different computer.
Observed behavior: The received document displays an unknown author name instead of the original sender's name in its file properties.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ask the recipient to send a screenshot of the exact author name displayed in the file properties so you can accurately compare it with the original file on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Compare Original and Received Workbook Properties

Verify if the author name was altered during the transfer process or if it was inherently different on the original file.

In most cases, an altered author name does not indicate a compromised Mac or a malware infection. Metadata changes can occasionally happen due to email server handling, privacy settings stripping identifying data, or the receiving computer's default application settings overriding the document properties.

Check the original Mac file

Open the original Excel file on your Mac, go to 'File' in the top menu, select 'Properties' (or right-click the file in Finder and select 'Get Info'), and review the 'Author' field.

Check the received file

Have the recipient right-click the downloaded Excel file on their computer, select 'Properties' (Windows) or 'Get Info' (Mac), and check the details tab for the registered Author.

Compare the details

If the names do not match, the email client (such as Yahoo) or the recipient's software might have modified or stripped the metadata during the download process.

Security Reassurance: Rest assured, a modified author name in this specific email transfer scenario is highly unlikely to be caused by a virus or a compromised operating system.

Solution 2

Manually Edit or Remove Personal Information Before Sharing

Set or clear the author name explicitly before sending the file to avoid confusion or mismatched metadata.

Manage File Properties Easily

Check and Edit File Authors Safely with WPS Office

Easily manage your spreadsheet metadata, view author properties, and protect your privacy when sharing files using WPS Office. It provides robust tools to inspect and modify document information before emailing them.

1. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the workbook you want to inspect or modify.
2. Access file properties: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner (or the 'File' tab on Mac) and select 'Document Properties'.
3. Review the author info: In the Summary tab, locate the 'Author' field to see the current name attached to the file.
4. Edit or clear metadata: Type a new name into the Author field or delete the text to ensure no unrecognized name is sent.
5. Save your changes: Click 'OK' to apply the changes, then save the document before attaching it to your email.

Easily view and modify spreadsheet author namesFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsLightweight and secure for handling sensitive documentsFree alternative to manage daily office tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an email provider like Yahoo change my file's author name?

Usually, email providers do not intentionally change metadata. However, strict privacy settings or antivirus scanners integrated into the email service might strip metadata during transit, causing the recipient's software to display a default or 'unknown' author.

Why does my Excel file show a previous employee's name as the author?

If you created the workbook by using 'Save As' on an older file or template originally created by someone else, their name may remain embedded in the document properties until you manually update or clear it.

How can I remove all personal information from an Excel file on Mac?

While on a Mac, you can prevent personal information from being saved by going to 'Excel' > 'Preferences' > 'Security', and checking the option for 'Remove personal information from this file on save'.

Does an unknown author indicate my Mac has a virus?

No. A changed or unknown author name in a transferred document is typically a metadata handling quirk between different operating systems or email clients, not an indicator of malware or a compromised device.

Document & File Issues