Fix Missing Excel Data Types After macOS Monterey Update
Question details
The Data Types feature in Microsoft Excel is missing or unavailable after updating the Mac operating system.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Opening Microsoft Excel on a Mac to work with data after a recent macOS system update.
- Observed behavior
- The Data Types button disappears from the Excel ribbon, despite having an active, fully updated Microsoft 365 subscription that works normally on Windows.
Ensure your Microsoft 365 subscription is active and that you have fully closed Microsoft Excel before executing any Terminal commands.
Reset Excel Metadata via Terminal
This method deletes the specific configuration file that dictates whether the Data Types button is displayed, forcing Excel to recreate it upon restarting.
Major macOS updates can sometimes corrupt cached configuration files in Microsoft Office, preventing cloud-connected features like Data Types from loading properly.
Ensure Excel is completely closed by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting Quit, or by pressing Command + Q.
Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, type 'Terminal', and press Return to launch the application.
Copy and paste the following command into Terminal and press Return: rm ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/AppData/Microsoft/Excel/Metadata
Launch Microsoft Excel and check if the Data Types button has returned to the ribbon. You may need to quit and restart Excel a second time for the changes to take effect.
Verify Account Settings and Reinstall Office
If the Terminal fix fails, refreshing your account credentials and completely reinstalling the application suite can restore missing features.
Try WPS Office for a Stable Mac Spreadsheet Experience
If missing features and macOS update bugs disrupt your workflow, consider WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring a smooth and reliable spreadsheet experience on your Mac.
- 1. Download the App: Get the official WPS Office for Mac installer from the WPS website.
- 2. Open Your Workbooks: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files without losing any formatting or data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Excel Data Types disappear after a macOS Monterey update?
Operating system updates can occasionally disrupt the permission structures or cache files that Microsoft Office relies on to display cloud-connected features. This prevents UI elements like the Data Types button from loading on the ribbon.
Will deleting the Excel metadata file in Terminal delete my spreadsheets?
No. The Terminal command targets a specific hidden configuration file that only controls application interface elements. Your saved spreadsheets and internal data remain completely untouched.
What should I do if the Terminal fix doesn't work?
If resetting the metadata doesn't restore Data Types, you should try logging out and back into your Microsoft 365 account. If that fails, completely uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office on your Mac often resolves persistent bugs.
