On my Excel, I cannot click the main max or value button on my solver. I use MacBook Air.

Question

So I had an assignment to use solver I did everything exactly as it is my friend has a MacBook Air, which is running on old OS and it works perfectly. I have my new MacBook Air in which I cannot click any buttons. It is very frustrating. My exams are coming near, but I cannot do anything please help.

Answer 1

Dear Pratham Trivedi
Welcome and thank you for sharing your issue in the Q&A forum.

Based on your detailed information, I understand your frustration with the Solver utility not working on your new MacBook Air, especially with exams approaching. This problem is very common and usually stems from a compatibility conflict between the version of Excel, the new macOS, or the Apple Silicon (M-series) chip architecture of your new machine.

According to my research, here are the troubleshooting steps you should attempt immediately, in order of preference:

Reinstall/Re-activate the Solver Add-in

Deactivating and reactivating the add-in can often refresh its configuration files and resolve minor glitches.

1. Open Excel and go to the Menu bar: Tools > Excel Add-ins...
2. In the pop-up box, Uncheck the Solver Add-in and click OK.
3. Repeat the process: Go back to Tools > Excel Add-ins..., then Check the Solver Add-in and click OK.
4. Try opening Solver again and test if the buttons are now clickable.

Force Excel to Run using Rosetta 2 (For Apple Silicon / M-series Chips): this step forces Excel to run in the older Intel compatibility mode, which can resolve deep-seated architectural conflicts that affect older add-ins like Solver.

1. Completely Quit the Excel application.
2. Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder.
3. Right-click the Microsoft Excel application icon and select Get Info.
4. In the Info window, check the box labeled Open using Rosetta.
5. Close the Info window and relaunch Excel.

If the issue persists after performing the first two steps, there may be a deeper incompatibility. For your urgent exam preparation, we recommend the following:

• Downgrade the Office Version: This is a more complex solution but worth considering. Since your friend's older Mac/OS works perfectly, the issue might be with your current Excel build. You could consider completely uninstalling your current Office version and installing the exact older build your friend is using. (Be aware: this is time-consuming and must be done carefully). You can find older installer packages here: Update history for Office for Mac - Microsoft Learn 
• Use a Different Computer: In an emergency situation for an exam, the safest and quickest solution is to borrow your friend's computer or use another machine (Windows or older Mac) that has confirmed working Solver functionality to complete the assignment.

Please attempt the priority steps first. If you need further assistance with the process of downgrading, please feel free to reach out.

Good luck with your upcoming exams!

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