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When adding an Excel object in Word, it fails and returns the following error:
The program used to create this object is Excel. That program is either not installed on your computer or it is not responding. To edit this object, install Excel or ensure that any dialog boxes in Excel are closed.
I have Excel installed and this feature in Word was functional ~3 days ago when I last used it. There have been no system changes or changes to my system state between the last known good and today's fault.
I've tried using the feature with Excel opened, closed and after restarting my computer, Excel closed and opened for a total of 4 independent tests and the same error as above.
I can insert tables and quick tables, but not Excel spreadsheet, not even with a fresh blank document after closing the program and restarting the computer.
I only have 1 instance of Office installed on my computer.
I only have one MS Account with the full Office 365 suite.
I am the only person with access to my computer.
Windows Defender and Malwarebytes do not detect any issues with my computer. All updates and drivers are current at the time of writing this question.
Excel operates without issue as a standalone program, however I would like to add an excel sheet into my word document like I could a few days ago.
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Hey, just a quick check that worked for me: Try to change the Excel file name to one shorter and simpler. As stupid as that.
Microsoft has a serious problem with error messages, they are crap and so often misguide the user... Like programs saying "Not responding" when they are actually calculating something. Or Outlook saying that "the OST file is corrupted because the program was closed improperly" but you've actually reached the file size limit. Microsoft products are full of incorrect error messages that do not help at all.
Please Microsoft, invest a little bit in correct error messages that actually help the user.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(105.60000000000001, 81%, 20%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I did an online repair of office, disabled all plugins for both word & excel, and reboot and that fixed it for me.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(246.4, 3%, 33%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Opening Word as administrator fixed this for me
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(259.20000000000005, 82%, 35%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This is an updated comment Nothing I have tried has continued to work. I've tried changing settings, running a repair, uninstalling & reinstalling, I spent more money and paid for a 365 subscription and installed that, I updated my OS from Windows 10 pro to 11 Pro, then I called MS tech support and we tried everything all over again without any success. I've wasted well over 20 hours trying to get this working correctly, and all MS could tell me was, "it'll be fixed in the next update." The updates have come and gone and still it's not working.
I have half a mind to dig out an old version of MS Office and install that.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(16, 53%, 11%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EYW%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This reported issue happens if the excel was originally saved in "multiple instance" mode. (i.e. when you open the excel, multiple copies are opened.)
Save the excel as "single instance" and you will be able to insert the excel into the word document.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(233.6, 31%, 32%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EEM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Today i encountered with this problem.