Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Excel Send Workbook Temporary File Error on Mac

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel for Mac fails to access a temporary workbook file while attempting to share or send a document.

How to Fix Excel Send Workbook Temporary File Error on Mac

Product: Microsoft Excel for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Attempting to share or email an active workbook via the File > Share > Send Workbook menu.
Observed behavior: Excel displays an error stating it cannot access the temporary workbook file, blocking the sharing process even though the original file path is completely valid.

Before you start

Before beginning the troubleshooting process, ensure you manually save a local copy of your current workbook to your Mac to prevent any accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Test File Specificity and Re-authenticate Microsoft 365

Determine if the issue is isolated to a specific corrupted file and refresh your Microsoft 365 session credentials.

Often, temporary file generation errors are caused by corrupted metadata in a specific workbook or an expired Microsoft 365 authentication token. Isolating the issue helps pinpoint the exact cause.

Create a new workbook

Open Excel for Mac and create a brand new, blank workbook. Enter some random text into a cell.

Test the send feature

Go to File > Share > Send Workbook. If this succeeds, your original file might be corrupted. If it fails, the issue affects the entire application.

Sign out of Microsoft 365

If the error happens on all files, click on your profile icon or go to the Excel menu, and select Sign Out to remove your current credentials.

Sign back in

Completely quit the Excel application (Cmd + Q), reopen it, and sign back into your Microsoft 365 account to refresh the connection.

Test File Specificity and Re-authenticate Microsoft 365

Tip: If the issue only affects one file, try copying all the contents of the problematic workbook and pasting them into a fresh workbook, then save it as a new file.

Solution 2

Unlink and Relink OneDrive on Mac

Fix temporary file errors caused by synchronization conflicts with Microsoft OneDrive.

Solution 3

Repair or Reinstall Office for Mac

Resolve deep software corruption by reinstalling the Microsoft Excel application.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Error-Free Spreadsheet Sharing with WPS Office for Mac

If Microsoft Excel on Mac continues to display temporary file errors or sync issues, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight alternative for viewing, editing, and effortlessly sharing your spreadsheets without complex cloud conflicts.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and install the free version of WPS Office for Mac.
2. Open your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any format conversion.
3. Share effortlessly: Use the built-in share functionality in WPS Office to instantly send your workbooks via email without encountering access errors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Lightweight architecture ensures fast performance without heavy temporary file bloat.Built-in robust sharing tools that seamlessly integrate with your Mac's email client.Completely free to use for your essential, everyday office spreadsheet tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel say it cannot access a temporary workbook file?

This error typically triggers due to permission conflicts on your Mac, disrupted synchronization with cloud storage like OneDrive, or an expired Microsoft 365 authentication session, which prevents Excel from generating the required temporary file for email attachment.

Where are Excel temporary files stored on a Mac?

On macOS, Excel temporary files are usually stored deep in hidden system caches, commonly located at '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Caches/'. However, manually deleting files here is not recommended as it could lead to application instability.

Does this error mean my Excel workbook data is lost?

No. The error solely impacts the temporary duplicate file generated during the Share/Send process. Your original workbook data remains perfectly safe. You should manually save the file locally to ensure all recent changes are preserved.

How can I share my Excel file if the built-in send feature keeps failing?

As an immediate workaround, manually save your Excel workbook to a local folder like your Mac's Desktop or Documents. Then, open your preferred email application (such as Apple Mail or Outlook), compose a new message, and manually attach the saved file.

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