Where to Find the Options Menu in Excel for Mac
Question details
The user is looking for the equivalent of the Windows File > Options menu in Excel for Mac to configure settings such as document privacy.

- Product
- Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Trying to locate application settings or document options in Microsoft Excel on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- The Options menu found under File in the Windows version is missing in the Mac interface.
Ensure you have your Excel application open on your Mac, as you need to be actively in the program to access its settings menu.
Access Settings via Excel Preferences
Use the built-in Preferences menu on macOS, which serves as the equivalent to the Windows Options menu.
On macOS, applications use a standardized Preferences menu instead of the Options menu commonly found on Windows. All your Excel settings, including security, calculation options, and privacy controls, are located here. You should disregard any instructions that tell you to click File > Options on a Mac.
Launch Microsoft Excel on your Mac and open any workbook.
Navigate to the top left corner of your screen menu bar and click on the word 'Excel' next to the Apple logo.
Click on 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu to open the settings window.
Select the desired category, such as 'Security', to modify your document privacy options or remove personal information from the workbook.

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If you find navigating between Windows and Mac versions of Microsoft Excel confusing, try WPS Office. It offers a consistent, intuitive interface across all platforms, ensuring your settings and options are always where you expect them to be.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS installer.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and easily open all your existing .xlsx files with full formatting compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no 'File > Options' in my Mac Excel?
Microsoft Office for Mac follows the standard macOS interface design guidelines. On a Mac, application-wide settings are always placed in the 'Preferences' menu under the application's name (Excel > Preferences) rather than in the File menu.
How do I remove personal information from an Excel workbook on Mac?
Go to Excel > Preferences, click on Security, and check the option to remove personal information from the file upon saving.
What is the shortcut to open Excel Preferences on a Mac?
You can open the Preferences window instantly by pressing the Command (⌘) and Comma (,) keys simultaneously while Excel is the active application.




