'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Download Security Prices in Excel for Mac
Question details
The user wants to retrieve and download live security prices and market information into an Excel spreadsheet on a Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Tracking financial markets or building investment portfolios that require live security prices.
- Observed behavior
- Users need to utilize linked data types to fetch prices, but may encounter availability issues depending on their Microsoft 365 subscription, Excel version, or regional access.
Ensure you are signed in to Excel with a Microsoft account that has an active Microsoft 365 subscription, as the Stocks data type relies on cloud-connected services.
Use the Stocks Linked Data Type
The most direct way to get security prices in Excel for Mac is by converting text into the Stocks data type.
Excel for Mac can retrieve real-time market information through linked data types. This feature requires a supported Microsoft 365 subscription and an active internet connection.
Navigate to Help > Check for Updates in the top menu bar to ensure you are running the latest version of Excel.
Type the supported security name or ticker symbol (for example, MSFT or AAPL) into a blank cell in your spreadsheet.
Select the cell containing your ticker symbol, navigate to the 'Data' tab on the ribbon, and click on 'Stocks'.
Click the 'Insert Data' icon that appears next to the selected cell and choose 'Price' from the dropdown menu to download the current security price.
Troubleshoot Unrecognized Securities or Missing Features
Use this solution if the Stocks option is missing from your Data tab or if Excel does not recognize your entered security.
Try WPS Office for Your Spreadsheet Needs
If you are frustrated with Microsoft 365 subscription limitations or complex licensing requirements for basic data features, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for managing your financial data and spreadsheets.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite for Mac from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Portfolio: Open your existing Excel portfolio (.xlsx) directly in WPS Spreadsheets with zero formatting loss.
- 3. Manage Financial Data: Use built-in financial functions or import external web data to track and calculate your security prices seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Stocks data type missing in my Excel for Mac?
The Stocks data type is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. If you have a one-time purchase version of Office (like Office 2019 or Office 2021), or if your region does not support connected data types, the feature will not appear in the Data tab.
Do I need a specific license to download security prices in Excel?
Yes, you need an active Microsoft 365 subscription. Furthermore, the availability of certain securities and market data features can vary depending on whether you are using a personal, work, or school license.
How do I update the security prices once they are in Excel?
Once you have converted your cells to the Stocks data type and extracted the prices, you can update them to the latest available data by navigating to the Data tab and clicking 'Refresh All'.
What should I do if my security ticker is not recognized?
If Excel cannot find your security via its ticker symbol, try entering the full official company name instead. You can also include the stock exchange prefix (for example, NASDAQ:AAPL) to help Excel locate the correct security data.
