Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix the Disabled Get Add-ins Option in Microsoft Word

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to click or access the Get Add-ins button to install extensions in Microsoft Word or Excel.

How to Fix the Disabled Get Add-ins Option in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to browse, download, or manage add-ins from the Microsoft Store to extend Office functionality.
Observed behavior: The Get Add-ins button is grayed out or completely disabled, preventing the user from installing new add-ins.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer, as modifying domain Group Policy settings requires admin access, and check if your device is connected to a company network.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Connected Experiences in Trust Center Settings

Microsoft Office requires connected experiences to be enabled for the Get Add-ins feature to connect to the store and download add-ins.

By default, privacy settings or updates might disable the cloud connectivity required to access the Office Add-in store. Enabling these settings in the Trust Center restores the functionality.

Open Trust Center Settings

Launch Microsoft Word or Excel, click on the File tab, and select Options at the bottom of the left-hand menu. In the Word Options window, click on Trust Center, then click the Trust Center Settings button.

Navigate to Privacy Options

In the Trust Center dialog box, select Privacy Options from the left sidebar, then click on the Privacy Settings button.

Enable Connected Experiences

Scroll down to the Connected Experiences section. Check the boxes to enable experiences that download online content and optional connected experiences. Click OK to save the changes.

Restart Microsoft Office

Close all instances of Microsoft Word and Excel. Reopen the application and check if the Get Add-ins button is now active on the Insert tab.

Enable Connected Experiences in Trust Center Settings

Restart Required: Changes to Trust Center Privacy Settings will not take effect until you completely restart Microsoft Word or Excel.

Solution 2

Reconfigure Group Policy Settings

If you are on a company network, network administrators might have deployed Group Policy Objects (GPOs) that block add-ins.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Get Add-ins button grayed out only on my work computer?

Work computers connected to a company domain often have Group Policy settings managed by IT administrators. These policies may restrict access to the Office store or block third-party add-ins for security and compliance reasons.

Do I need administrative rights to change Trust Center Privacy Settings?

No, you can generally modify your local Trust Center Privacy Settings without administrative rights, unless your IT department has explicitly locked these settings using the Office Customization Tool or Group Policy.

Will enabling connected experiences affect my privacy?

Enabling connected experiences allows Microsoft Office to connect to cloud services, which is necessary to browse and download add-ins. This means some diagnostic and usage data may be sent to Microsoft depending on your broader privacy configuration.

What should I do if the Get Add-ins option is still disabled after restarting Office?

If adjusting the Trust Center settings does not work, verify whether a Group Policy is enforcing the restriction. You may need to contact your organization's IT support team to request permission or access to specific Office add-ins.

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