Install and use Excel add-ins to get extra features and commands in your workbooks
Find Your Add-ins Folder
Usually, Excel add-ins are installed in Excel's default folder for Add-ins. If you prefer to store add-ins in a different folder, go to the Use a Different Folder section.
To find your default Add-ins folder, you can use either of these methods:
We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. NOTE: Close Excel before making any changes to the installed Addins. How to Install an Excel Add-In Excel 2007 and Later. To install an add-in, please follow these steps: In Windows Explorer, open the Microsoft Excel Addins folder on your computer. NOTE: If you aren't sure of the location, you can use the Excel Addin Folder Path file to find it.
- Use my Excel Addin Folder Path Locator file.
Browse for the Addin Folder
To manually locate the default Excel AddIns folder, follow the steps below.
- Click the Developer tab on the Excel Ribbon. If it isn't visible, follow the steps here.
- Click the Add-Ins command
- In the Add-Ins window, select any add-in in the list, and click the Browse button. That will open the Browse window, at the AddIns folder.
- Right-click on the path at the top of the Browse window, and click 'Copy Address as Text'
- Click Cancel, to close the Browse window
- Click Cancel, to close the Add-Ins window.
- Open Windows Explorer, and paste the copied address into the address bar, then press Enter
How to Use the Excel Addin Folder Path Locator File
- Download a copy of my Excel Addin Folder Path Locator file.
- Unzip the file, and store it in a folder on your computer (not the Addins folder)
- Next, open the file, and enable macros
- Go to the AddinsFolder sheet
- Click the Show Addins Folder Location button.
- In cell B4, the file path will appear. For example, in Windows 10, it might be located here:
C:UsersUserNameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftAddIns - Click the Open Addins Folder button
- Windows Explorer will open, and will show the contents of the Addins Folder.
NOTE: Close Excel before making any changes to the installed Addins
How to Install an Excel Add-In
Excel 2007 and Later
To install an add-in, please follow these steps:
- In Windows Explorer, open the Microsoft Excel Addins folder on your computer.
NOTE: If you aren't sure of the location, you can use the Excel Addin Folder Path file to find it.
If you are using a different folder, see the Use a Different Folder section below. - Unzip the add-in file, if necessary, to extract the add-in file -- it will probably have an xlam extension
- Save the add-in file in your Microsoft Addins folder.
NOTE: You can store the add-in in any folder, but it's easier to install if it's stored in the Addins folder - To allow Excel to open the add-in file automatically, you might need to unblock it. Right click on the add-in file and click Properties
- If the following warning appears, click the Unblock box, to add a check mark -- 'This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer'
- Click OK
- Open the Excel program
In Excel:
- On the Ribbon, click the Developer tab (if you don't see that tab, follow the instructions here to show it)
- Click the Add-ins button.
- In the Add-in dialog box, add a check mark to add-in's name.
Note: If you do not see the add-in in the list, click the Browse button. Navigate to the folder where you saved the xlam file, and select the add-in file - Click OK, to close the window.
- A new tab for the add-in might appear on the Ribbon, or a new command might appear on one of the existing tabs -- check the add-in notes, for help in locating it.
- If you don't see a button on the Ribbon, you can add icons to the Quick Access Toolbar, to run the macros.
Use a Different Folder to Store Add-ins
Instead of storing your Excel add-in in the default Micrsoft Excel Addins folder, you can use an other folder on your computer.
To prevent problems, follow these steps to set that folder as a Trusted Location:
- In Excel, click the File Tab, and click Options
- In the list at the left, click Trust Centre
- Click the Trust Center Settings button
- In the list at the left, click Trusted Locations
- If your folder is not list there, click the Add New Location button
- Click the Browse button
- Find and select your folder, and click OK
- Click OK again, and your folder should appear in the Trusted Location list.
- Click OK, twice, to close the windows.
Add-in Custom Tab Not Showing
Due to Microsoft security updates, some Excel add-ins (mine and others) might not load correctly, and their custom tabs don't appear on the Excel Ribbon. Here are a few solutions you can try.
Unblock the Add-in File
This is the most common solution to the missing add-in tab. Follow the steps below, to unblock the file, and it should open correctly.
- Close Excel, if it is running
- Open Windows Explorer, and open the folder where you stored the add-in file, usually the Microsoft Addins folder.
NOTE: If you aren't sure of the Addins folder location, you can use the Excel Addin Folder Path file to find it. Then, close Excel again. - To allow Excel to open the add-in file automatically, you might need to unblock it. Right click on the add-in file and click Properties
- If the following warning appears, click the Unblock box, to add a check mark -- 'This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer'
- Click OK
- Then, start Excel, and the custom tab for the add-in should appear on the Excel Ribbon
Use a Trusted Location
If your add-in is not stored in the defaault addins folder, the tabs could be missing because your folder is not a Trusted Location.
Follow the instructions above, that show how to use a different folder as a Trusted Location for your add-in files.
Check the Ribbon
In one case that I've heard of, there was a problem with the Excel Ribbon. Try these steps, if the other solutions don't fix the problem.
- Right-click on an empty part of the Excel Ribbon, and click Customize the Ribbon
- In the list at the right, you should only see one tab named Developer
- If there is a second one, named Developer (Custom), uncheck that tab
- Then, close the Customize window, and close and restart Excel.
Free Add-ins
I use a few free add-ins that make Excel even better, and asked other people what free add-ins they use, and would recommend.
I compiled a list, starting with my favourites. Maybe you'll see a few that you can download and install, and make working in Excel a bit easier.
Click here to see my list of recommended free add-ins.
Save a File as an Add-in
You can create your own add-ins, by storing macros in a file, then saving it as an add-in:
- Record or create one or more macros in the file
- On the Excel Ribbon, click the File tab, and click Save As
- Click the Browse button, to open the Save As window (stay in the selected folder)
- At the bottom, type a File Name
- In the Save As Type drop down, select Excel Add-In (*.xlam)
- The AddIns folder should be automatically selected
- Click Save, then close Excel
- To use your add-in file, follow the steps above, to install it
Remove an Add-in
Different Uses For Excel
I compiled a list, starting with my favourites. Maybe you'll see a few that you can download and install, and make working in Excel a bit easier.
Click here to see my list of recommended free add-ins.
Save a File as an Add-in
You can create your own add-ins, by storing macros in a file, then saving it as an add-in:
- Record or create one or more macros in the file
- On the Excel Ribbon, click the File tab, and click Save As
- Click the Browse button, to open the Save As window (stay in the selected folder)
- At the bottom, type a File Name
- In the Save As Type drop down, select Excel Add-In (*.xlam)
- The AddIns folder should be automatically selected
- Click Save, then close Excel
- To use your add-in file, follow the steps above, to install it
Remove an Add-in
Different Uses For Excel
To remove an Excel add-in that you stored in the Addins folder, follow these steps. How to screenshot something on a laptop.
A) Open the Add-ins Window
Use one of these methods to open the Add-ins window:
- If the Developer tab is showing on your Excel Ribbon, click that, then click the Excel Add-ins command.
- OR, click the File tab, then click Options, and click the Add-Ins category.
- At the bottom of the window, in the Manage drop down list, choose Excel Add-ins, and then click Go
B) Inactivate the Add-in
Next follow these steps to inactivate the add-in:
- In the Add-Ins available list, click on the add-in that you want to inactivate -- its description will appear below the list. Read that, to make sure that it's the add-in that you want to remove
- Then, remove the check mark beside the Add-in's name
- Next, click OK, to close the Add-ins window.
C) Remove the Add-in
Microsoft Excel How To Use
Next follow these steps to remove the add-in file:
Use Excel Free
- Close Excel
- Go to the Addins folder (follow the steps to find it), or the folder where you stored the Excel add-in that you want to remove
- Delete the add-in file, or move it to a different folder, so it won't open automatically, when Excel starts.
- Restart Excel, and the add-in will no longer appear.
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