How to Fix Excel Stocks and Currencies Not Working on Apple Silicon Macs
Question details
The user needs to restore functionality for the Stocks and Currencies data types in Excel that are failing on newer Apple Macs.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS (Apple Silicon M1)
- Scenario
- Attempting to use the connected Stocks and Currencies data features in an Excel workbook on an Apple M1 MacBook Air.
- Observed behavior
- The feature fails to execute and displays an account-repair message on Apple Silicon Macs, despite working perfectly on older Intel-based iMacs.
Ensure you have your Microsoft 365 account credentials readily available, as you will need to completely sign out and reactivate your subscription during the troubleshooting process.
Downgrade Excel and Reactivate Your Subscription
Reverting to a previously stable build of Excel (such as version 16.64) and resetting your account connection circumvents the Apple Silicon compatibility bug.
Differences in architecture between Intel processors and Apple Silicon (M1/M2 chips) can occasionally cause advanced connected features in Microsoft 365 to fail. Downgrading the app to a version where the feature was known to be stable is the most reliable workaround until Microsoft releases a permanent patch.
Open the 'Applications' folder in Finder, locate Microsoft Excel, and drag it to the Trash to remove the current problematic version.
Visit the official Microsoft Office for Mac update history page online and download the installer for version 16.64 (or another confirmed stable build).
Install the older version, launch Excel, and click on your profile in the top left. Select 'Sign Out', then restart Excel and sign back in to reactivate your Microsoft 365 subscription.
Open the 'Help' menu in Excel and click 'Check for Updates'. Uncheck the option for automatic updates to prevent the system from automatically reinstalling the broken version.
Refresh Account Credentials on Latest Version
If the issue stems strictly from a corrupted login session rather than an architecture bug, a complete credential refresh may restore connected features.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Performance on Apple Silicon
If you are tired of dealing with architecture bugs, account repair errors, and subscription issues in Microsoft Excel, WPS Office provides a highly optimized, fully compatible alternative for Mac users.
- 1. Download the Mac Version: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed natively for Apple Silicon.
- 2. Install and Launch: Drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder, launch the app, and enjoy immediate access to premium spreadsheet tools.
- 3. Open Existing Excel Files: Double-click your existing .xlsx files to open them directly in WPS Spreadsheet with all formatting and formulas perfectly preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Stocks and Currencies work on my Intel Mac but fail on my M1 Mac?
This discrepancy is typically caused by architecture compatibility bugs between certain builds of Microsoft Excel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2) chips. These software differences can trigger false authentication flags, leading to 'account repair' messages on newer Macs.
How do I prevent Excel from automatically updating to a broken version?
You can disable automatic updates by opening Excel, clicking 'Help' in the top menu bar, selecting 'Check for Updates', and unchecking the box that says 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.
Will downgrading my version of Excel delete my saved spreadsheets?
No. Replacing the Excel application file with an older version only changes the software client. Your personal spreadsheets, data, and cloud-saved documents will remain completely intact and unaffected.
