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Data Import & Export

How to Fix Excel Stock Quotes Server Unavailable Errors on Mac

Maira MehtabMaira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where Excel displays a server unavailable message or fails to return financial data when using STOCKHISTORY and stock data types.

Product
Microsoft Excel
Device & OS
Mac
Scenario
Attempting to retrieve real-time or historical financial data using the STOCKHISTORY function or stock data types.
Observed behavior
Excel returns a server unavailable error or missing quote information due to temporary financial-data provider outages.
Before you start

Verify that your Mac has a stable internet connection, as Excel's stock data features require continuous access to online financial-data provider servers.

Solution 1Recommended

Wait and Refresh the Data Connection

Because the STOCKHISTORY function relies on an external online data provider, temporary server issues often resolve themselves after a short wait.

Financial data in Excel is powered by third-party servers. When these source servers experience heavy load or technical difficulties, Excel will temporarily fail to fetch the quotes.

1
Wait for server recovery

Give the online financial-data provider some time to resolve the temporary service disruption.

2
Refresh your spreadsheet

Go to the Data tab in the Excel ribbon and click 'Refresh All' to force Excel to attempt a new connection to the stock servers.

Microsoft Support Resources: You can review Microsoft's official information regarding stock data sources to see if there are any documented limitations or known outages.
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  1. 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel stock data show a #CONNECT! error?

The #CONNECT! error occurs when Excel cannot reach the online financial data provider. This is typically caused by a lack of internet connection or the provider's server being temporarily down.

Can I manually update stock quotes in Excel for Mac?

Yes. Navigate to the 'Data' tab on the top ribbon and click 'Refresh All'. This forces Excel to contact the financial data servers and update the quotes.

Will reinstalling Excel for Mac fix the server unavailable error?

No. The server unavailable error is tied to the third-party financial data servers (such as Refinitiv) that Microsoft uses, not your local software. Reinstalling will not fix external server outages.

Where does Excel pull its stock and financial data from?

Microsoft Excel relies on online financial-data providers, primarily Refinitiv, to supply the data for stock data types and the STOCKHISTORY function.