SharePoint Document Issues

Will the Excel Web Access Web Part Return to SharePoint Online?

Phi Hung Vo Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is inquiring whether the classic Excel Web Access Web Part will be reinstated in SharePoint Online to restore specific UI controls, such as hiding the status bar.

Is the Excel Web Access Web Part Returning to SharePoint Online?

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Embedding an Excel workbook into a SharePoint modern page while trying to hide interface elements like the Excel status bar.
Observed behavior: The classic Excel Web Access Web Part is unavailable in modern SharePoint Online, and the replacement File and Media Web Part does not offer the same interface control options.

Before you start

Ensure you have site editing permissions in SharePoint Online and verify that the Excel workbook you wish to embed is already uploaded to a SharePoint document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the File and Media Web Part

While it does not offer the exact same UI hiding controls, this is the official Microsoft alternative for displaying Excel files in modern SharePoint pages.

Microsoft recommends using the File and Media Web Part as the standard replacement for older SharePoint embedding experiences. Note that this modern web part currently displays the status bar by default and cannot be natively configured to hide it.

Edit the SharePoint Page

Navigate to the modern SharePoint page where you want to embed the Excel file and click the 'Edit' button in the top right corner.

Add the Web Part

Hover your mouse over the page canvas, click the '+' icon to add a new web part, and select 'File and Media' from the menu.

Select the Excel Workbook

Choose the target Excel file from your SharePoint document library and click 'Open' or 'Insert' to embed it onto the page. Finally, click 'Republish' to save your changes.

Feature Limitation: The File and Media Web Part will still show the Excel status bar. Do not rely on unsupported methods like custom CSS or iframes to hide standard interface elements, as Microsoft updates may break them.

Solution 2

Use the Embed Web Part with an Embed Code

This method utilizes Excel for the Web's sharing feature to generate an embed code, which can then be placed into SharePoint.

Solution 3

Submit Feedback for Missing Controls

Since there is currently no native way to restore the classic Web Part or hide the status bar, escalating the request to Microsoft is the recommended path forward.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the Excel status bar in the modern SharePoint File and Media Web Part?

Currently, the modern File and Media Web Part in SharePoint Online does not provide a native configuration option to hide the Excel status bar, unlike the classic Excel Web Access Web Part.

Is it safe to use custom CSS to hide SharePoint interface elements?

Microsoft strongly advises against relying on custom CSS or iframes to hide standard interface elements. Future updates to SharePoint Online's modern architecture frequently break these custom overrides.

Will Microsoft bring back the classic Excel Web Access Web Part?

There is currently no official information or timeline from Microsoft regarding the return of the classic Excel Web Access Web Part to modern SharePoint Online environments.

Document & File Issues