Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Excel Insert Icons Window Is Blank

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to load icons from the Insert menu in Excel, resulting in a blank window, despite the feature working correctly in Microsoft Word.

How to Fix Excel Insert Icons Window Is Blank

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to insert online icons into an Excel spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: The Insert > Icons window opens but remains completely blank and fails to load any graphic elements.

Before you start

Ensure your computer has a stable internet connection, as the Insert Icons feature relies on downloading content directly from online servers.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Connected Experiences and Verify Network

The Insert Icons feature requires an active internet connection and enabled 'Connected Experiences' in your Microsoft account settings to download graphics.

Office applications use Connected Experiences to analyze content and download online assets like icons, 3D models, and templates. If this privacy setting is disabled, the Insert Icons window will appear blank.

Access Account Settings

Open Microsoft Excel, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' from the left sidebar.

Manage Privacy Settings

Under the Account Privacy section, click on the 'Manage Settings' button.

Enable Connected Experiences

Scroll down to find the 'Connected Experiences' section. Check the box that says 'Turn on all connected experiences' and click 'OK'.

Restart Excel

Close and reopen Microsoft Excel. Wait a few moments for the network connection to establish, then navigate to Insert > Icons to see if they load.

Enable Connected Experiences and Verify Network

Network Delay: If you have a slow or unstable network connection, the icon list may take some time to load or might load later in the day once the connection stabilizes.

Solution 2

Run Excel in Safe Mode and Disable COM Add-ins

Third-party add-ins can sometimes block Excel's ability to connect to online services, preventing icons from displaying.

Solution 3

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

If connected experiences are enabled and safe mode does not resolve the issue, your Office installation files may be corrupted.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Reliable and Fast Spreadsheet Experience

If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with loading online icons or connected experiences, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for handling spreadsheets, complete with built-in graphics and a familiar interface.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and click 'Open' to load your existing .xlsx files without losing any formatting or data.
3. Insert Graphics Easily: Navigate to the Insert tab to seamlessly add icons, shapes, and pictures to your spreadsheets without relying on complex connected settings.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) file formatsBuilt-in library of high-quality icons, shapes, and charts ready for immediate useLightweight design ensures fast startup and smooth operationFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface for quick migration

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do icons load in Word but not in Excel?

This can happen if Excel has specific COM add-ins installed that block network connections, or if Excel's specific cache for online assets is corrupted. It can also occur if Connected Experiences are turned off locally within Excel's specific settings.

What are Connected Experiences in Microsoft Office?

Connected Experiences are cloud-backed services in Microsoft Office that allow the applications to analyze content and download online assets like icons, stock images, templates, and fonts from Microsoft's servers.

How do I know if a network issue is causing the blank icon window?

If your internet connection is slow or unstable, the Icons window may open blank but populate later once the data finishes downloading. Testing your connection speed or waiting a few hours to try again can confirm if it is a network delay.

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