logo
search
VBA & Macro Problems

Fix REFPROP 10 Excel Add-In Not Working on macOS

Maira MehtabMaira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The REFPROP 10 Excel add-in successfully runs on Windows but encounters errors when trying to load the librefprop.dylib path via VBA on macOS.

Product
Excel
Device & OS
macOS
Scenario
Using the REFPROP 10 Excel Add-in for thermodynamic calculations via VBA macros on a Mac.
Observed behavior
The add-in fails to load the librefprop.dylib path in macOS VBA, whereas the Windows equivalent works perfectly.
Before you start

Ensure that you have the latest version of Excel for Mac installed and verify that your REFPROP 10 installation specifically includes the correct macOS compiled .dylib files.

Solution 1Recommended

Escalate the VBA Compatibility Issue to Developer Forums

Because this involves third-party dynamic libraries (.dylib) and advanced Mac VBA sandboxing, it requires specialized developer community support rather than standard Microsoft troubleshooting.

Excel for Mac runs in a strictly sandboxed environment, which restricts how VBA interacts with external dynamic libraries like librefprop.dylib. Because this involves custom third-party integrations and cross-platform coding differences, standard Microsoft support forums cannot provide a direct fix.

1
Gather your system information

Note down your exact macOS version, Excel for Mac build number, and the specific REFPROP 10 installation path on your machine.

2
Prepare your VBA code snippet

Open the VBA Editor in Excel and extract the exact macro code where the librefprop.dylib path is declared and where the execution fails.

3
Post your query to Stack Overflow

Create a new question on Stack Overflow. Use the tags 'vba' and 'excel-mac'. Provide a descriptive title, your system details, the specific library path you are using, and a reproducible code example.

Developer Support: VBA programming queries involving third-party dynamic libraries fall outside the support scope of the standard Microsoft Answers forum.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Seamless Spreadsheets with WPS Office

If you are tired of dealing with complex compatibility issues and sandboxed environment limitations in Microsoft Excel for Mac, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible alternative with a familiar user interface for your daily spreadsheet tasks.

  1. 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
  2. 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded package and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your Mac.
  3. 3. Open your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any formatting loss.
Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeFamiliar user interface for a seamless zero-learning-curve migrationReliable cross-platform performance across macOS, Windows, and Linux
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my VBA code for dynamic libraries work on Windows but not on Mac?

Windows uses Dynamic Link Libraries (.dll) while macOS uses Mach-O dynamic libraries (.dylib). Furthermore, Excel for Mac operates in a strict sandboxed environment, meaning it requires explicit user permissions or specific path configurations to access external files like librefprop.dylib.

Where should I place the librefprop.dylib file for Mac Excel to read it?

On macOS, standard practice is to place dynamic libraries in /usr/local/lib/ or within the application's specific library folder. However, due to Office sandbox rules, you may need to grant Excel full disk access or place the file directly in the Office sandbox container directory.

Is there a workaround for REFPROP VBA issues on Mac?

Many users rely on running the Windows version of Excel via virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion on their Mac. This allows you to use the standard Windows .dll REFPROP add-in seamlessly without dealing with Mac sandbox restrictions.