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How to Disable the Excel Legacy Shared Workbook Collaboration Notification
Question details
Users need a way to disable the notification that prompts them to turn off the Legacy Shared Workbook feature and upload the file to OneDrive.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening an Excel workbook configured with the Legacy Shared Workbook feature, change tracking, and password protection.
- Observed behavior
- Excel displays a notification encouraging users to disable the legacy feature and upload the workbook to OneDrive. Users can bypass the password to disable it, potentially deleting the workbook's audit history.
Before proceeding, ensure you have administrative access to your Microsoft 365 account, as addressing this notification issue requires contacting Microsoft Support for an advanced workaround.
Contact Microsoft Support for a Registry Workaround
Because Excel lacks a built-in toggle for this notification, administrators must request a registry-level workaround directly from Microsoft.
Microsoft is deprecating the Legacy Shared Workbook feature in favor of real-time co-authoring on OneDrive. Consequently, they do not provide a standard settings menu or Group Policy to disable the migration prompt.
To prevent users from bypassing password protection and erasing the audit history, your IT department must submit a formal service request to Microsoft to check for available registry key interventions.
Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and log in using your global administrator or support administrator credentials.
On the left-hand navigation pane, locate and select 'Support'.
Click on 'New service request' from the expanded menu.
Explain that the Legacy Shared Workbook notification allows users to bypass password protection and erase change tracking history. Request a registry-based workaround to hide this specific prompt.
Switch to WPS Office for Seamless and Secure Spreadsheet Collaboration
Avoid complex registry workarounds and legacy feature conflicts. WPS Office provides a highly compatible, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Excel, offering secure file sharing and tracking features without forced cloud-migration prompts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer for your operating system.
- 2. Open Your Legacy Workbooks: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing protected .xlsx or .xls files seamlessly.
- 3. Collaborate Securely: Utilize the built-in Review and Share tools to track changes without encountering forced OneDrive migration prompts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel prompt me to upload my legacy shared workbook to OneDrive?
Microsoft is actively deprecating the Legacy Shared Workbook feature to promote modern real-time co-authoring via OneDrive and SharePoint. The notification serves to encourage users to migrate to the newer collaboration infrastructure.
Can users really disable the legacy shared workbook feature without entering the password?
Yes, currently the notification prompt allows users to turn off the legacy feature and upload the file to OneDrive, inadvertently bypassing the password that was originally set to protect the workbook's change tracking.
What happens to the audit history if the legacy shared feature is disabled?
If a user disables the Legacy Shared Workbook feature through the prompt, Excel turns off change tracking. This action permanently removes the workbook's previous audit history and tracked changes.
Is there a standard Group Policy setting to hide this Excel notification?
No, Excel does not currently offer a built-in Group Policy Object (GPO) or simple setting toggle to hide this specific prompt. Resolving it requires opening a support ticket to request an advanced registry-based workaround from Microsoft.
