How to Fix an Excel Add-In That Disappears After Restarting
Question details
The user needs to prevent an installed Excel add-in from disappearing or deactivating every time the application is closed and reopened.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using custom or third-party add-ins in Microsoft Excel.
- Observed behavior
- The add-in works perfectly immediately after installation but vanishes from the ribbon and add-ins list when Excel is restarted, even after adjusting Trust Center settings.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer, as moving add-in files to permanent system directories and modifying file security properties require system access.
Move Add-in to a Permanent Local Folder and Unblock the File
Storing the add-in file in a secure, non-temporary directory and unblocking it in Windows prevents Excel from discarding it upon restart.
Excel aggressively protects users from malicious scripts. If an add-in is loaded from a temporary location (like the Downloads folder) or if Windows flags the file as originating from another computer, Excel will silently disable it the next time it starts.
Ensure that Microsoft Excel is completely closed before attempting to move or modify add-in files.
Locate your downloaded add-in file (typically a .xlam or .xll file) and move it to a permanent local folder, such as 'C:\Program Files\MyAddins' or the default Microsoft AddIns directory at '%appdata%\Microsoft\AddIns'.
Right-click the add-in file in its new location and select 'Properties'. In the General tab, look for a 'Security' section at the bottom. Check the box that says 'Unblock', then click 'Apply' and 'OK'.
Open Excel and navigate to File > Options > Add-ins. Select 'Excel Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown and click 'Go'. Click 'Browse', locate the file in your permanent folder, and select it to ensure it is permanently activated.
Verify Provider Requirements and Updates
Sometimes an add-in is inherently incompatible with your version of Excel or requires specialized credentials to persist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel add-in say it is not in a trusted location?
By default, Excel blocks executable scripts and add-ins that are stored in vulnerable user folders like Downloads or the Desktop. You need to move the file to a designated Trusted Location, which can be configured under File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations.
How do I force Excel to keep my add-in active?
Ensure the add-in file is marked as 'Unblocked' in its Windows Properties menu. Additionally, navigate to File > Options > Add-ins, select 'Disabled Items' from the Manage dropdown, and verify that your add-in hasn't been hard-disabled by Excel after a previous crash.
Does the 'Require Application Add-ins to be signed' setting cause this issue?
Yes. If that specific Trust Center setting is enabled and the add-in is not digitally signed by a publisher you have explicitly trusted, Excel will silently disable it every time the application starts for security reasons.
