Unable to open certain Excel spreadsheets stored in Sharepoint with the Excel desktop app. Only affecting one user. Spreadsheets open fine online

Question

I have a user who is syncing files from their SharePoint site to their computer. There are multiple users who have access to this SharePoint site and are also syncing to their computer. There are some Excel files that when they try opening the file from the synced SharePoint directory, they receive an error message. (I want to share the screenshot but when I try uploading the image it says it failed to upload..) The error message says "Sorry, we couldn't find <file path>. Is it possible it was moved, renamed, or deleted?". The file path is towards the SharePoint site that is synced to the computer. After clicking OK, another message pops up. "Microsoft Excel cannot access the file <file path>. There are several possible reasons: The file name or path does not exist. The file is being used by another program. The workbook you are trying to save has the same name as a currently open workbook." After clicking OK, the first error message will pop up again. Both messages will keep popping up and requires using Task Manager to force Excel to close.

There is only this one user having the issue. Any other user who has the SharePoint site synced to their computer can access and open the Excel file with no issue.

If I download the files from Sharepoint to the computer I can open them from the downloads folder with the desktop app. Just won't open certain spreadsheets in the desktop app straight from Sharepoint.

Actions taken

1. Online repair of Office 365
2. Removed Office 365 with the SaRa tool and reinstalled
3. Excel and browser caches and removed temp files and all traces of Office from user profile before a reinstall

Answer 1

Dear User,

Good Day!! Thank you for posting your concern in this Microsoft Community.

Per the description shared, I would like to summarize your concern i.e., one of the user who is having access the SharePoint Online site is having the error when trying to open the Excel files from the synced folder to the Windows File Explorer via OneDrive sync client.

If my understanding is correct, as you have already performed the troubleshooting steps on the problematic device with no success, I would like to know whether the user is able to one the problematic files in Excel app via Open the Excel> Open> Sites - Company name

If yes, please try unlink the OneDrive account and shared libraries on the OneDrive sync client and setup the account by choosing the new location, then make sure to select the shortest path than before and see whether you encounter any error.

If yes, please create a new user profile on the problematic device and see whether you encounter the same issue. Reference: Create a local user or administrator account in Windows - Microsoft Support

Thank you for your patience and understanding!!

Sincerely

Mia | Microsoft Moderator

Answer 2

Thanks Mia

I should have mentioned that the error occurs when trying to open the file from Within Sharepoint online and also when double clicking on it in the locally stored synched folder.

The error also occurs when opening Excel and using the Open file option and selecting from the synched folder

I tried unlinking OneDrive and then signing in again, but I didn't setup a new OneDrive location.

I will try that now and let you know

Paul

Answer 3

Fixed

Deleting the user profile worked

User signed back in and a new profile was created

Answer 4

Dear User,

Glad to hear the problem is resolved by creating a new profile and if you have any concerns related to O365 in the future, please feel free to post a new thread in this community where we will try our best to assist you.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!!

Sincerely

Mia | Microsoft Moderator