How to Change Automatic Data Type Refresh Settings in Excel
Question details
The user wants to know how to modify or disable the automatic refresh behavior of linked data types in Microsoft Excel.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing scheduled intervals or workbook-open refresh behaviors for linked data types and external content.
- Observed behavior
- Excel automatically refreshes linked data types at scheduled intervals or when the workbook opens, and the user needs to control this behavior.
Ensure you have saved your current workbook and understand which external data connections or linked data types are active in your file before modifying global security settings.
Adjust External Content Settings in the Trust Center
Modify Excel's global security settings to prevent or control the automatic refresh of data connections and linked data types.
Excel allows you to manage how external content, including linked data types and workbook links, behaves when a file is opened. By adjusting the Trust Center settings, you can force Excel to prompt you before refreshing or disable the automatic refresh entirely.
Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the Excel ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Excel Options dialog box, click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane, and then click the 'Trust Center Settings...' button on the right side.
Select 'External Content' from the left menu in the Trust Center window. Here, you can review and select your preferred security settings for data connections and workbook links (e.g., 'Prompt user about Data Connections' or 'Disable all Data Connections').
Click 'OK' in the Trust Center window, and then click 'OK' again in the Excel Options window to apply the new refresh settings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually refresh my data if automatic refresh is turned off?
Yes. Even if you disable automatic refresh in the Trust Center or connection properties, you can always update your data manually by navigating to the 'Data' tab and clicking 'Refresh All'.
Why do my Excel linked data types refresh every time I open the file?
By default, many external data connections and linked data types in Excel are configured with the 'Refresh data when opening the file' property enabled to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date information upon launch.
Will changing Trust Center settings affect all of my Excel files?
Yes, adjusting the External Content settings in the Excel Trust Center applies globally to the Excel application. It will affect how external data connections behave across all workbooks opened on that computer.
How do I change the automatic refresh time interval for a specific query?
Go to the 'Data' tab, select 'Queries & Connections', right-click the specific query, and choose 'Properties'. Under the 'Usage' tab, you can check 'Refresh every' and specify the number of minutes for the interval.
