Unable to activate Excel Solver

Question

Hello,

I am trying to activate my excel solver by going to 'Options' > 'Add-ins' > Manage: Excel Add-ins and then clicking 'Go'. I checked the box for Solver Add-in and clicked 'OK', but I got the following message:

These cryptic reasons are not helping me understand why I can't access solver. The file name or path does exist as I found it in my file explorer. I don't see how or where this file is being used by another program and I also am not trying to save a workbook. Can anyone please tell me what I have to do to get rid of this issue and access solver?

Answer 1

Hi Akshat_27,

Thank you for querying in this forum.

From your description, it seems that you want to enable Solver add-in in your Excel, however, you encountered an error message when you selected it under Excel add-ins. And you can find it in your file explorer.

If my understanding is right, for the situation you encountered, we do understand the inconvenience caused and apologize for it. For the error message you provided, we have also searched a lot and we will provide the suggestions below and hope that will help you:

1. We found someone encountered the same error message and solved it via the steps below, you can go to Excel > File > Options > Add-ins > select “Disabled add-ins” from the list > Go > Enable Solver, then you can go to File > Options > Add-ins > Select "Excel add-ins" > Select "Solver" from the list. For your reference: Cannot access the file 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Root\Office16\Library\SOLVER\SOLVER.XLAM'
2. If the suggestion above doesn’t work, you can also do an Office Online repair. Repair an Office application. This will reset all Office applications.

If the suggestion above doesn’t work, to better understand your situation, could you provide the information below?

1. Could you provide the product information and version of your Excel? You can go to Excel > File > Account and provide the screenshot of it.
2. May I know if the other add-ins have the same problem?

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Best Regards,

Sukie

Answer 2

OH YEAHHHH!!!!

It worked! I tried your second suggestion and I am finally able to access Solver as well as any other excel add-ins. Oh wow, I am very happy this worked! I have been dealing with this issue for months, having to find alternative, more inconvenient ways to use excel add-ins. Thank you so very much! I feel a lot better now that this issue has been resolved.

Answer 3

I tried to do the first suggestion, but for the part where I had to select "Disabled add-ins" from the list < Go, a window popped up saying that "There are no disabled items." So I will go ahead and try your second suggestion.

Answer 4

Hi Akshat_27,

We're glad to hear that you have solved the problem and we're also glad to hear our suggestion above is helpful, if you have any other questions, you can also post a new thread in our forum and our engineers will also try our best to help you.

Best Regards,

Sukie