Office Scripts not working in Excel Web (catalog server error), but works in Desktop

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m having an issue with Office Scripts in Excel Web.

When I open a file in the browser and go to the Automate tab, I see an error like: “Feature Error: We couldn’t connect to the catalog server for this feature.”

• I’m using a work account and I do have permission
• The same file works fine in Desktop Excel (Office Scripts open normally there)
• I’ve tried logging out and back in, and switching browsers, but no luck
• Network seems fine as well

The main problem is: I need Office Scripts to run in web version because I’m trying to automate it (can’t rely on desktop).

Has anyone run into this before? Is this a Microsoft service issue, tenant setting, or something else?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Hi @Max Xiong,

Based on your sharing about the situation and the article Platform limits, requirements, and error messages for Office Scripts - Office Scripts | Microsoft Learn, I suggest you should double check these options first:

• First check your browser settings to confirm whether it allow third-party cookies or all cookies yet. Office Scripts on the web requires internet connectivity with connected experiences enabled, and the browser must allow third-party/all cookies.
• In the article I mentioned, it clearly states that "Tenants that have added authentication context settings with Conditional Access don't support Office Scripts in Excel on the web." Therefore, you should contact your IT administrator and confirm whether these configurations are applied or not, then you can ask for their help to use Office Scripts with Excel on the web.

If you don't know who your IT administrator is, please refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support

Please understand that my initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, you can try these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to find a solution.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.    

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

The error indicates Excel on the web cannot reach the backend service (“catalog server”) that provides Office Scripts. Since the same workbook works in desktop Excel, the issue is specific to the web environment or tenant configuration.

Based on the documented requirements and troubleshooting steps, the following checks are relevant:

1. Confirm platform and license support
   • Ensure the account is using a supported Microsoft 365 business/education license and Excel on the web, as listed under Platform support (for example, Office 365 Business, E3, E5, etc.).
   • If the tenant is in a government cloud, note that Office Scripts are not supported on GCC High or above. In that case, Office Scripts in Excel on the web will not work reliably.
2. Verify the Automate/Office Scripts prerequisites for Excel on the web
   • Follow the steps under Automate tab not appearing or Office Scripts unavailable even if the tab appears, because the same conditions affect script loading:
     • Make sure the Microsoft 365 license includes Office Scripts.
     • Ensure third‑party cookies are enabled in the browser. If third‑party (or “all”) cookies are blocked, the Automate experience and script catalog cannot load correctly.
     • Confirm the admin has not disabled Office Scripts in the Microsoft 365 admin center or via Group Policy (Windows clients).
     • Ensure the user is not signed in as an external/guest user in the tenant.
3. Check Conditional Access and unmanaged devices
   • If the device is considered unmanaged by the tenant and Conditional Access policies restrict access to SharePoint/OneDrive or Power Automate, Office Scripts in Excel on the web can be blocked. This can surface as failures to access scripts or related services.
   • Tenants that use authentication context with Conditional Access do not support Office Scripts in Excel on the web. In that case, use Excel for Windows or Mac instead, or have the admin adjust Conditional Access so Office Scripts are allowed.
4. Excel in Teams vs browser
   • If the workbook is opened in Excel inside Microsoft Teams, Office Scripts are only supported in Teams on the web, not in Teams for Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. Open the file directly in Excel on the web in a browser instead of the Teams desktop client.

If all prerequisites (license, cookies, admin settings, Conditional Access, and supported cloud/host) are satisfied and the error persists, it is likely a tenant‑side service or policy issue. In that case, an administrator should:

• Re‑check Office Scripts settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Review Conditional Access policies for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Power Automate, especially for unmanaged devices and authentication contexts.

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References:

• Introduction to Office Scripts in Excel
• Troubleshoot Office Scripts
• Platform limits and requirements with Office Scripts
• "We couldn't connect to the catalog server for this app" error when you use Excel Web App to open a spreadsheet