Security Policy Errors

How to Allow Excel IQY Query Files from Specific SharePoint URLs

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is looking for a way to selectively allow .iqy (Excel Web Query) files from specific SharePoint Online URLs or trusted SaaS applications, as they are being blocked by Excel's Trust Center.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading and opening .iqy files from trusted SharePoint sites or enterprise SaaS platforms to pull data into spreadsheets.
Observed behavior: Excel Trust Center completely blocks the .iqy query files, and there is no built-in setting to selectively allowlist specific URLs for these files.

Before you start

Before attempting to modify Trust Center settings, consult your organization's IT department to ensure you do not violate internal security and data protection policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Consult IT Administrator and Submit a Feature Request

Because Excel does not natively support selective URL allowlisting for IQY files, you must coordinate with your IT administrator to explore enterprise-level workarounds and submit a feature request to Microsoft.

Currently, Microsoft Excel's Trust Center does not provide a straightforward, built-in feature to allowlist `.iqy` files based purely on specific SharePoint or SaaS URLs.

Blocking Web Query files is a standard security measure designed to prevent malicious external data connections from executing automatically on your machine.

Review Current Security Settings

Open Excel, click on 'File', select 'Options', and go to 'Trust Center'. Click on 'Trust Center Settings' and navigate to 'External Content' to see your current data connection policies.

Consult Your IT Administrator

Reach out to your network or IT administrator. They may be able to manage 'Trusted Locations' or adjust group policies for specific SharePoint domains across the organization network.

Submit Feedback to Microsoft

Visit the official Microsoft Feedback Community portal online and submit a feature request detailing your need for URL-based selective allowlisting for .iqy files.

Security Warning: Do not completely disable external content blocking in the Trust Center just to allow a single file, as this leaves your system vulnerable to malicious scripts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an .iqy file?

An .iqy file is an Excel Web Query file used to download data from the internet or an intranet directly into an Excel worksheet. It acts as a set of instructions telling Excel where to fetch the external data.

Why does Excel block .iqy files by default?

Excel blocks these files because malicious actors can exploit web queries to force the application to download malware or expose sensitive system information through unauthorized external data connections.

Can I add a SharePoint URL to Trusted Sites in Windows to bypass this block?

Adding the specific SharePoint URL to your Windows Internet Options 'Trusted Sites' may help with general authentication and single sign-on, but it does not override Excel's internal Trust Center rules for blocking .iqy files.

How do I access the Trust Center in Excel?

To access the Trust Center, open Excel, click on 'File', select 'Options' at the bottom left, choose 'Trust Center' from the left pane, and then click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.

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