Update & Upgrade Problems

How to Fix Excel Data Selector Disabled After an Office Security Update

Emma Brown Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore the functionality of the Excel Data Selector connected to Power BI after a recent Microsoft Office update disabled it.

How to Fix Excel Data Selector Disabled After an Office Security Update

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to use the Excel Data Selector to interact with Power BI data following an automatic Office security update.
Observed behavior: The Data Selector feature is completely disabled or fails to connect to Power BI services.

Before you start

Before rolling back your Office version, make sure to save all open workbooks and note your current Microsoft 365 update channel to ensure you select the correct rollback version.

Solution 1Recommended

Roll Back the Microsoft Office Update via Command Prompt

Temporarily revert your Office installation to a previous, functional build to bypass the update bug.

If a recent security patch broke the Data Selector, rolling back via the Click-to-Run client is the most effective temporary workaround until Microsoft releases a permanent fix.

Disable Automatic Office Updates

Open Excel, navigate to File > Account > Update Options, and select 'Disable Updates' to prevent Office from immediately reinstalling the broken patch.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Click the Windows Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.

Navigate to the Click-to-Run Directory

In the Command Prompt, type 'cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun' and press Enter.

Execute the Rollback Command

Type 'officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17830.20166' (replace the version number with one appropriate for your update channel) and press Enter to start the rollback.

Roll Back the Microsoft Office Update via Command Prompt

Check Update History: Always verify the appropriate version number for your specific Microsoft 365 update channel on the official Microsoft release notes page before running the rollback command.

Solution 2

Submit a Support Request via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Contact Microsoft Support if you are in a managed IT environment or if the rollback does not resolve the issue.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable, Update-Friendly Spreadsheet Experience

If you frequently encounter feature bugs or workflow disruptions from forced Microsoft Office updates, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for your daily spreadsheet and data analysis needs.

1. Download and Install: Visit the WPS Office website to download the free installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Open Your Excel Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and directly open your existing .xlsx files without losing any data or formatting.
3. Analyze Data Smoothly: Use built-in data analysis tools and pivot tables in a highly stable environment.

Completely free and lightweight office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formatsStable performance without disruptive automatic feature changesFamiliar user interface ensuring a seamless migration process

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Excel Data Selector stop working after a security update?

Security updates can occasionally introduce compatibility issues or temporarily block connected services like Power BI data selection until a subsequent patch resolves the conflict.

How do I find my previous Office version number to roll back to?

You can find release histories and version numbers for Microsoft 365 Apps on the official Microsoft release notes page, categorized by your specific update channel (such as Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise).

Should I keep Microsoft Office updates disabled permanently?

No. It is highly recommended to re-enable Office updates once Microsoft officially releases a fix for the Data Selector bug, as ongoing updates contain critical security patches to keep your system safe.

Installation & Activation