Power Query Problems

Fix Excel Power Query Refresh Errors on One Computer

Huda Qurayshi Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where an Excel Power Query successfully refreshes data from an online table on one computer but fails to do so on a different computer using the same file.

How to Fix Excel Power Query Refresh Errors on One Computer

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Refreshing online table data using Power Query across different computers sharing the same spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: The query imports data successfully on the first computer but produces a refresh error on another machine, likely due to mismatched cache, network, or credential settings.

Before you start

Ensure both computers are connected to the internet, and verify that the target webpage URL is currently live and accessible from a standard web browser on the failing computer.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear and Reconfigure Data Source Permissions

Different computers might have different saved credentials or permissions for the same URL, causing refresh failures on a new machine.

Power Query stores credentials locally for external data sources. If the failing computer has outdated, missing, or incorrect credentials saved for the specific website, the refresh will fail even if the file itself is identical.

Open Data Source Settings

Launch Excel on the computer experiencing the error. Go to the Data tab on the ribbon, click on Get Data, and select Data Source Settings.

Clear Existing Permissions

Locate the problematic webpage URL in the list of data sources. Select it, click the Clear Permissions button, and confirm the action.

Re-enter Credentials

Click Edit Permissions or simply try refreshing your query again. Excel will prompt you to enter credentials. Select the appropriate authentication method (e.g., Anonymous for public websites, or Windows/Basic for secured portals) and save.

Clear and Reconfigure Data Source Permissions

Permission Scope: Make sure you apply the credentials to the exact URL level required by the query to prevent further authentication mismatches.

Solution 2

Clear the Power Query Cache

The working computer might be loading cached results instead of hitting the live webpage, masking an underlying error that appears on the second computer.

Solution 3

Adjust Power Query Privacy Levels

Conflicting privacy levels (Public, Organizational, Private) across different machines can prevent data from loading securely.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a Power Query work on my work computer but not my home computer?

This usually happens because the two computers have different saved credentials, network firewall restrictions, or privacy settings for the data source. The work computer might also be loading a locally cached version of the data instead of executing a fresh live query.

Can network firewall or proxy settings block Power Query?

Yes. Strict corporate firewall rules, VPNs, or proxy servers on a specific computer can block Excel from reaching external webpages, resulting in a refresh error even if the URL works perfectly on another network.

How do I check if my Power Query data is just cached?

You can force Excel to fetch live data by clearing the cache. Go to Data > Get Data > Query Options. Under the Global Data Load settings, click 'Clear Cache', then try refreshing your query again to see if it successfully connects to the source.

Excel & Data Problems