Is the Excel Stock Data Type Available in Office 2016?
Question details
The user wants to know whether the Excel Stocks linked data type works in Microsoft Office 2016 and what to use if it does not.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016 / WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is working in Excel 2016 and wants to use the Stocks linked data type to pull stock or financial information into a worksheet.
- Observed behavior
- The Stocks data type is not available in Office 2016 because Microsoft introduced it for supported Microsoft 365 versions and does not backport it to older perpetual editions.
Confirm your current Office edition and update channel in File > Account before switching plans or troubleshooting. If you only need to view or edit an existing .xlsx workbook, open a copy in WPS Office and check whether the file relies on Microsoft 365 Stocks-linked cells.
Use Microsoft 365 to Access the Excel Stocks Data Type
Choose this when you need the built-in Stocks linked data type and can sign in with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft added the Stocks data type to Excel in supported Microsoft 365 versions, so it is not available as a backported feature in Office 2016.
Open any Office app, click File > Account, and confirm that you have a Microsoft 365 subscription and an update channel that receives new features.
In Excel for Microsoft 365, select the cells that contain company names or stock tickers.
Go to the Data tab, click Stocks in the Data Types group, and confirm the company or fund when Excel prompts you.
Click the Add Column icon on the selected Stocks cell and choose fields such as Price, Change, or Market Cap to pull live data.
Open and Edit Excel Workbooks with WPS Office Without Microsoft 365
Use this if you cannot subscribe to Microsoft 365 but still need a free way to open, edit, and save Excel-compatible workbooks.
WPS Office as a Free Excel-Compatible Alternative
WPS Office is a free, lightweight Office suite that opens, edits, and saves Excel .xlsx files with a familiar ribbon interface. When Microsoft 365-only features such as the Stocks data type are unavailable in Office 2016, WPS Office provides seamless migration and daily spreadsheet compatibility without a subscription.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office website and click Download WPS Office Free.
- 2. Install and launch WPS Office: Run the installer, open WPS Office, and select Spreadsheets from the home screen.
- 3. Open an existing Excel workbook: Click Menu > Open, choose the .xlsx file from your computer, and continue working in the familiar spreadsheet layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Stocks data type missing in Excel 2016?
Microsoft introduced the Stocks linked data type for supported Microsoft 365 versions and does not backport it to Office 2016, so the option is not available in that perpetual edition.
Can I add the Stocks data type to Office 2016 by running updates?
No standard Office 2016 update adds the Stocks data type. To use the feature, sign in to a supported Microsoft 365 version of Excel with an update channel that receives it.
Can WPS Office use Excel's Stocks data type?
WPS Office can open and edit Excel .xlsx workbooks, but it does not include Microsoft 365's Stocks linked data type. You can use WPS Spreadsheets for Excel-compatible editing or import financial data from another source.
What should I do if I receive an .xlsx workbook that contains Stocks-linked cells?
Open the workbook in Excel for Microsoft 365 to refresh or recreate the linked stock data. Office 2016 does not expose the Stocks data type, so the feature cannot be used there.
Is there a free way to edit Excel files without Microsoft 365?
Yes. WPS Office is a free alternative that opens, edits, and saves Excel .xlsx files, so you can handle everyday spreadsheet work without a Microsoft 365 subscription.
