Fix Excel 2019 Office Add-ins Blocked by Internet Explorer 11
Question details
Users are unable to load or use certain modern Office add-ins in Excel 2019 because the underlying Internet Explorer 11 web view control is no longer supported.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to open or use web-based Office add-ins within Microsoft Excel 2019.
- Observed behavior
- Excel add-ins fail to load, displaying an error message stating that the page is no longer accessible because Internet Explorer 11 support has ended.
Verify that you are currently using Excel 2019 by checking your account settings, and see if your required add-in offers a standalone desktop or web version before committing to a software upgrade.
Upgrade to Microsoft 365 or Office 2021
Upgrading your Office suite is the most effective and officially recommended way to resolve IE11 dependency issues for modern add-ins.
Microsoft Excel 2019 relies on the deprecated Internet Explorer 11 web view control to host modern web-based add-ins. Because Microsoft does not provide a patch to replace this control in Office 2019, modern add-ins that require EdgeHTML or WebView2 will simply not function.
Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 use updated web technologies natively, ensuring full compatibility with the latest add-ins available in the Office Store.
Open Excel 2019, click on the 'File' menu, and select 'Account' from the left sidebar to confirm your current product version.
Visit the official Microsoft website to either subscribe to Microsoft 365 for continuous updates or purchase a one-time license for Office 2021.
Download the installer from your Microsoft account dashboard, run the setup file, and allow it to upgrade or replace your existing Office 2019 installation.
Open the newly installed version of Excel, navigate to the 'Insert' tab, click on 'Get Add-ins', and restore your extensions to verify they load correctly.
Switch to WPS Office for a Modern, Lightweight Experience
If you are experiencing compatibility issues with older software like Excel 2019 and want to avoid expensive upgrade fees, WPS Office offers a powerful, free, and highly compatible alternative. Enjoy a seamless spreadsheet experience without worrying about outdated browser dependencies.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click the download button to get the latest free version.
- 2. Install the application: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open your spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly; your data and formatting will be preserved seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Excel 2019 add-ins use Internet Explorer 11?
When Office 2019 was developed, it was built using the Internet Explorer 11 web view control as its default rendering engine to display the user interface of web-based add-ins.
Can I manually force Excel 2019 to use Microsoft Edge WebView2?
No, Microsoft has not provided a general update or configurable setting in Office 2019 to switch the underlying web view control from IE11 to Edge WebView2 for modern add-ins.
Are all Excel add-ins affected by the IE11 retirement?
Not necessarily. Only modern, web-based add-ins that have updated their underlying code to drop IE11 support or rely on newer web standards will fail to load in Excel 2019.
Does WPS Office support Excel add-ins and macros?
WPS Office supports many standard COM add-ins and VBA macros. However, specific web-based Office add-ins designed exclusively for the Microsoft Office Store may behave differently, so we recommend testing your required workflows within WPS Spreadsheets.
