Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Get Add-Ins Button Disabled or Missing in Excel 365

Khadija Khan Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore access to the Get Add-ins button to install or manage extensions in Excel 365.

How to Fix Get Add-Ins Button Disabled or Missing in Excel 365

Product: Microsoft Excel 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to browse and install web add-ins via the Excel ribbon menus.
Observed behavior: The Get Add-ins button is grayed out or completely missing from the File, Home, Insert, and Quick Access Toolbar areas in Excel, despite working correctly in Outlook.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current work, as you will need to restart Microsoft Excel for changes in the Trust Center settings to take effect.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Web Add-ins in Excel Trust Center

Use this solution to clear any security restrictions that are blocking web add-ins from loading in your Trust Center settings.

Excel's Trust Center contains specific security settings that can prohibit web add-ins from loading or displaying on the ribbon. Adjusting the Trusted Add-in Catalogs will usually restore the missing button.

Open Excel Options

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the Excel ribbon and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Trust Center Settings

In the Excel Options dialog box, click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane, then click the 'Trust Center Settings' button on the right side.

Modify Trusted Add-in Catalogs

Select 'Trusted Add-in Catalogs' from the left menu. Uncheck any options that say 'Don't allow any web add-ins to start' or prohibit web add-ins.

Restart Excel

Click 'OK' to save your changes, close the Options window, and restart Microsoft Excel for the new settings to apply.

Enable Web Add-ins in Excel Trust Center

Organizational Policies: If these settings are grayed out and cannot be changed, they are likely controlled by your organization's IT policy. You will need to contact your system administrator to request access.

Solution 2

Check for Disabled Add-ins

Sometimes an add-in crash causes Excel to disable the feature entirely. Checking the disabled items list can help resolve this conflict.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Get Add-ins button work in Outlook but not in Excel?

Office applications manage their Trust Center settings and Add-in Catalogs independently. An IT administrator may have deployed a policy that blocks web add-ins specifically for Excel while allowing them for Outlook.

What should I do if my Trust Center settings are grayed out?

If the checkboxes in the Trusted Add-in Catalogs are locked or grayed out, it means your organization has deployed a Group Policy to restrict these features. You will need to contact your IT administrator to request permission or policy adjustments.

Can I install extensions manually if the Get Add-ins button is missing?

Yes, depending on your permissions, you can manually install local COM add-ins by navigating to File > Options > Add-ins. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown and click 'Go' to browse for and install custom add-in files from your local drive.

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