File Format & Compatibility

Why Downloaded Excel Files Show You as the Author & How to Fix It

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to understand why an Excel file downloaded from cloud storage displays their local computer's user name as the file's author, and how to reveal or correct the original creator's name.

Why Does Excel Show Me as the Author of a Downloaded File?

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading an Excel spreadsheet from a cloud platform like OneDrive for Business or SharePoint and opening it on a local desktop.
Observed behavior: The local Excel application replaces or masks the original SharePoint creator's name with the local Office user name in the file's Author property.

Before you start

Ensure you have downloaded the Excel file to your local drive and have a desktop spreadsheet application open to inspect the file's internal metadata properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Check and Edit the Author in Excel File Info

Review the internal metadata of the Excel file and manually edit the author property to reflect the original creator.

In platforms like SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business, the 'Created By' column tracks who uploaded or generated the file on the server. However, when you download the file, Excel relies on embedded metadata.

If the original author did not permanently save their name into the file's metadata, Excel defaults to displaying the Office user name configured on your current computer.

Open the Document Properties

Launch Microsoft Excel and open the downloaded spreadsheet. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon.

Navigate to the Info Tab

Select 'Info' from the left-hand menu pane to view the document's background information.

Locate the Author Field

Look at the right side of the screen under the 'Related People' section. You will see the current 'Author' listed here.

Edit or Add an Author

To change the author, right-click the incorrect name and select 'Remove Person'. Then, click 'Add an author' and type in the correct name of the original creator.

Check and Edit the Author in Excel File Info

Metadata Availability: The original author will only be displayed automatically if that specific information was saved into the file's internal metadata before it was downloaded.

WPS Spreadsheet Solution

Manage Spreadsheet Metadata Easily with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter metadata and author name issues when downloading Excel files, WPS Spreadsheet offers a seamless, lightweight way to view and correct document properties. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats and provides a straightforward interface for managing file metadata.

1. Open the File in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your downloaded Excel workbook.
2. Access Document Properties: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner, then select 'Properties' from the dropdown list.
3. Navigate to the Summary Tab: In the Properties dialog box, click on the 'Summary' tab to view all metadata fields.
4. Edit the Author Name: Locate the 'Author' text box, delete the incorrect local user name, type in the original creator's name, and click 'OK' to save.

Easily view and modify document properties and author metadataFully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Lightweight application that opens files instantlyFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the author name change when downloading from SharePoint?

SharePoint displays the user who uploaded or created the file on the server in its 'Created By' column. When downloaded, the file uses its own internal metadata. If that metadata is blank, your local Excel app fills it in with your configured Office user name.

Can I prevent Excel from changing the author name when I download files?

To prevent this, the original creator must explicitly set their name in the file's metadata (via File > Info > Properties) and save the document before uploading it to OneDrive or SharePoint.

Where does Excel get my local user name from?

Excel pulls the default author name from your Microsoft Office installation settings. You can check or change this by going to File > Options > General, and looking under the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section.

Document & File Issues