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excel spreadsheet app

Karen Pardue 0 Reputation points
2026-06-06T00:03:48.9933333+00:00

where did this app suddenly go? All of a sudden I have to use the free excel browser version

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. Norah-L 6,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-08T04:19:48.95+00:00

    Hello Karen Pardue

    From what you described, it sounds like the Excel desktop app may no longer be showing on your PC, so it opens in the browser instead.

    First, select Start and type Excel. If Excel appears in the search results, open it from there. Sometimes the program is still installed, but its shortcut is missing from the Start menu. If it opens, you can right-click it and pin it for easier access.

    You can also go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps and look for Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office in the list. If it is listed, select it, choose Modify, then run Repair. Follow the on-screen steps and restart the PC afterward.

    If you do not see Microsoft 365/Office in the installed apps list, it may have been removed. In that case, sign in to the same Microsoft account linked to your subscription or purchase then open your Microsoft account Services page and check whether your Microsoft 365 or Office product still appears there. If it is listed, use the Install option on that page to download and reinstall Office on the PC.

    Please let me know how it goes after trying these steps!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-06T00:04:00.7733333+00:00

    The installed Excel app is separate from the free Excel for the web version. If only the browser version is available now, common reasons are:

    1. The device is using a subscription that does not include desktop apps (for example, Microsoft 365 Basic only provides OneDrive storage and requires using the free web apps at www.office.com).
    2. The Word/Excel/PowerPoint Mobile apps for Windows have been retired and are no longer supported; Microsoft recommends uninstalling them and using either the web apps or a Microsoft 365 plan that includes desktop apps.

    To keep using Excel without the desktop app:

    1. Go to Create.Microsoft.com or www.office.com.
    2. Open or upload workbooks to OneDrive and use Excel for the web to view and edit them.

    To get Excel back as an installed app on Windows, a Microsoft 365 plan that includes the desktop Office apps (for example, Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, not Basic) must be installed and activated on the device.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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