Automate menu item in Excel

Question

I'm having issues in getting the Automate menu item to appear in Excel (which is installed on my computer).  I have tried to add it choosing "Customize the Ribbon" when right clicking in the menu area. A box displays showing me the menu options I have and Automate is already checked, see screenshot. My version of Excel is Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2310 Build 16.0.16924.20054) 64-bit.  Is this a versioning issue and/or a rights issue?  Is there something else that I need to install on my computer?

Answer 1

Hi Will, this is Bryll

Thank you for writing us here in Microsoft Community.

Version 2310 (Build 16924.20054) seems to be under Insider program preview channel. If your Excel application is running in Insider preview channel, you might want to try switching out of the Insider preview channel.

To effectively switch Excel out of Insider preview channel, you may need to perform manual uninstallation of your Microsoft Office suite: Manually uninstall Office - Microsoft Support

Once successfully uninstalled, restart your computer then reinstall your Microsoft Office suite.

Important note: Make sure you have your product key or account information ready before you do this. You can download the Office setup file from your Microsoft account website or use the media that came with your purchase.

Once Excel is reinstalled, to make sure it is running on Regular update channel, you might want to try this strategy:

1. From Windows Start menu, locate Command Prompt then right click to run as Administrator.
2. In Command Prompt running as Administrator, type or paste these commands then hit Enter after each:

• cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun
• officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17029.20108

I'd love to answer your question further, but it seems like it's beyond my expertise. It's more complex than what we usually discuss here in the community. To help you get the precise information you need, visit the dedicated experts in Microsoft Q&A or Excel Community Center They are experts in these types of concerns.

We will also leave this thread open for our MVPs or other members who are experts in this concern to share their answers.

Yours truly,

Bryll

Community Moderator

Answer 2

Hi Brylll!

Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue I'm having. I will pass this along to our IT department for action. I hope this will help to get this resolved. I just can't see the Automate tab in Excel, I have tried almost everything. I would love to incorporate Office Scripts to our enterprise and get away from VBA behind Excel that uses macros. I don't know the future of macros, so this is what this effort is all about.

Will Stephens

Answer 3

Hi again Will

Thank you as well for finding time to respond back.

One possible reason why you can't see the Automate tab in Excel is that your organization has not enabled Office Scripts for enterprise users. Office Scripts is a feature that allows you to create and run scripts in Excel, without using VBA or macros. Office Scripts can help you automate common tasks, improve efficiency, and reduce errors. To use Office Scripts, you need to have an enterprise license of Microsoft 365 and your IT administrator needs to turn on the feature for your organization.

You can contact your IT administrator and ask them to follow the steps in this article: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/scripts/overview/excel. By doing so, you can access the Automate tab in Excel and start creating and running scripts.

It is a pleasure to share my thoughts and potentially support your concerns.

Best wishes,

Bryll

Community Moderator