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Fix Web.BrowserContents Error in Excel Power Query
Question details
User is experiencing an error when attempting to use the Web.BrowserContents function in Excel Power Query, despite the function working normally in Power BI.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel / Power Query
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to extract data from a web page using the Web.BrowserContents function in an Excel workbook.
- Observed behavior
- The function returns an error indicating it is not recognized or supported in Excel, even when Microsoft 365 is fully updated.
Verify that your data source URL is correct and accessible. Keep in mind that Power BI and Excel utilize different backend engines for Power Query, which affects function availability.
Use Standard Excel Web Connectors (Web.Page or Web.Contents)
Since Web.BrowserContents is exclusive to Power BI, use Excel's built-in web functions to scrape web data.
The Web.BrowserContents function utilizes a Chromium-based engine to render dynamic web pages, which is currently only supported in Power BI Desktop. In Excel, you must rely on standard web connectors like Web.Page or Web.Contents.
Open Excel, navigate to the 'Data' tab on the ribbon, and click on 'Get Data'.
Choose 'From Other Sources' and then select 'From Web'.
Paste the URL of the website you want to extract data from into the dialog box and click 'OK'.
Use the Navigator window to select the tables or HTML elements you need, and click 'Load'. Excel will automatically use the supported Web.Page or Web.Contents function in the background.
Process Data in Power BI and Export to Excel
Leverage Power BI's capability to use Web.BrowserContents and then move the processed data into Excel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Microsoft add Web.BrowserContents to Excel Power Query?
The Web.BrowserContents function relies on a Chromium-based backend engine to render JavaScript-heavy sites. This engine is integrated into Power BI Desktop but has not been implemented into Excel's version of Power Query, which uses older web retrieval methods.
Can I use VBA to scrape dynamic web pages in Excel instead?
Yes. If Excel's native Web.Contents cannot load dynamic elements, you can use VBA with Edge/Internet Explorer automation, or Python scripts (using tools like Selenium), to scrape the data and import it into your spreadsheet.
How do I check which web connector Excel is currently using?
Open your query in the Power Query Editor, go to the 'Home' tab, and click 'Advanced Editor'. If you see Web.Contents or Web.Page in the M code, Excel is using the standard supported web connectors.
