Using 365 Excel Offline doesn't load after trying to open the document again.

Question

I had to use excel offline and when I saved the file and later open it again to make some changes, I was stuck at the picture shown below, it wouldn't work until I had to re-connect to the internet again.

Am I not able to use 365 offline? it's was less than 5 minutes before I had to reopen excel.

Answer 1

Hi yoshi8rice

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I realize that you've encountered a problem with " Excel Offline doesn't load ", and I understand how you feel. Don't worry, I'll do my best to help you.

First, even in offline mode without an internet connection, you can still create, edit, and save documents, but there are some limitations. In offline mode, certain features will not be available, such as real-time collaboration, auto-save, and some add-ins. Additionally, if you are using an Office 365 subscription, you need to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep the subscription active, so ensure that your Office 365 is activated for offline mode.

Microsoft 365 (including Excel and other Office apps) typically supports offline use by default upon installation. However, if there is a network interruption or a change in the Office activation status, it might cause issues during offline use.

Check Office 365 Activation Status:

1. Open any Office app (like Excel), then click File > Account.
2. On the account page, check the "Product Information" section to ensure your Office activation status is normal and shows "Microsoft 365" or "Activated."

Ensure Offline Usage Permissions:

1. Make sure you are activated through a valid subscription, not a trial version. Without a valid subscription, Office will restrict offline use.

Additionally, if you need to be online when opening files, it might be because you are using OneDrive or SharePoint to sync files, and Excel requires online syncing when opening these files. You need to enable local storage （disconnect sync）:

1. When opening an Excel file, save it as a local file instead of an online file.
2. If the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, select "Save locally" or "Save As" in the file save dialog, then choose a local folder to save the file.
3. This way, you can edit in offline mode, avoiding lag caused by sync issues.

Based on your issue, it's highly likely the second situation, where you are opening an online file.

Feel free to share updates with me on how things are progressing after you've completed the aforementioned steps. Should you have any questions or require clarification, do not hesitate to reach out to me. I‘d like to do my utmost to assist you.

Merry Christmas！

Best regards

Adrian.C-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist