How to Share Excel Tabs Across Multiple Teams Workbooks with WPS Office
Question details
The user needs to share or synchronize an Excel worksheet tab across multiple Excel workbooks stored in Microsoft Teams, allowing updates to flow between workbooks.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel workbooks in Microsoft Teams
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Teams or SharePoint files are commonly edited in Excel for the web, and the user wants a shared tab to update automatically across multiple workbooks.
- Observed behavior
- Excel for the web did not support the required external links between workbooks at the time described, so shared tabs could not update automatically through the browser.
Before creating external links, sync the Teams or SharePoint document library to your PC with the OneDrive sync app, and make sure the workbooks are closed in Excel for the web or any other editor.
Sync the Teams files locally and create external links in WPS Office Spreadsheets
Use this method when you need the shared tab to update across multiple workbooks and you prefer a desktop editor that supports Excel external references.
Excel for the web may not support external workbook links. Syncing the Teams document library with OneDrive gives you local files that WPS Office Spreadsheets can open, edit, and link in the .xlsx format.
In Microsoft Teams, open the Files tab, click Sync or Open in SharePoint > Sync, and follow the OneDrive sync app prompts to create a local synced folder on your PC.
Navigate to the synced OneDrive or SharePoint folder in File Explorer, right-click the destination .xlsx workbook, and choose Open with > WPS Office Spreadsheets.
In the destination workbook, select the target cell, type =, switch to the source workbook, select the shared tab cell or range, and press Enter to create an external reference.
Save the destination workbook in WPS Office. When the source workbook changes, open the destination workbook and allow external link updates when prompted.
Centralize the shared tab in one workbook instead of using external links
Use this if you can restructure the workbooks and want to avoid dependency on external link support.
Use Power Query or Power Automate for a supported sync process
Use this for automated data consolidation when external links are unavailable or when you need a scheduled refresh.
Complete Excel tab sharing with WPS Office Spreadsheets
After syncing your Teams or SharePoint files locally with OneDrive, use WPS Office Spreadsheets to open the workbooks, create external references between tabs, and save them in Microsoft Excel .xlsx format.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office desktop app from the official WPS site, then launch WPS Office Spreadsheets.
- 2. Sync your Teams files locally: In Microsoft Teams, open the Files tab, click Sync, and let the OneDrive sync app create a local folder on your computer.
- 3. Create the external reference: Open the destination .xlsx workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets, select the cell, type =, then click the source workbook's shared tab and cell to insert the external link.
- 4. Save and refresh: Save the workbook in .xlsx format; when WPS prompts to update external links on open, click Update to refresh the shared data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel for the web support external references between Teams workbooks now?
Support may vary by Microsoft 365 version. If Excel for the web blocks external links, sync the files with OneDrive and create them in WPS Office Spreadsheets or Excel desktop.
How do I sync a Teams document library to my PC?
Open the Files tab in Microsoft Teams, click Sync, and approve the OneDrive sync app. The library then appears in File Explorer under your local OneDrive or SharePoint folders.
Will WPS Office keep my Excel external links intact?
Yes. WPS Office Spreadsheets opens and saves .xlsx files, including formulas that reference other workbooks, so linked cells remain compatible with Microsoft Excel.
Can I share one tab across multiple workbooks without external links?
Yes. You can centralize the shared data in a single workbook or use Power Query to consolidate data from other files instead of creating multiple external references.
