Bottom Line: Learn how to disable or completely uninstall and remove an Excel Add-in from the Add-ins menu.
Skill Level: Beginner
What is an Excel Add-in?
An add-in (or VBA add-in) is a file that contains macros. It has the extension “.xlam”. When opened, the worksheets in the file are hidden and the macros are typically accessed through buttons that are added to the toolbar or ribbon. Once installed, the .xlam file will automatically open every time Excel is opened. Check out are guide for installing an Excel Add-in to learn more.
If you don't want an add-in to run, it can simply be disabled (switched off) or completely removed.
How to Disable an Add-in
- Open Excel and click on the File tab.
- Then choose the Options menu.
- Next, click the “Add-Ins” option on the left-side menu, and then click the “Go…” button.
You may have to wait a few seconds for the window to appear.
Another way to access your add-ins is by clicking on the Excel Add-ins button on the Developer tab.
You can also add the Excel Add-ins button to the Quick Access Toolbar if you use it frequently.
- Uncheck the box next to the name of the add-in you want to disable. Then click OK.
The add-in will be disabled and closed in the background. It will not open next time you open Excel.
To Completely Remove an Add-in
- Open Excel, go to the File tab, and choose the Options Menu, just as in steps 1 and 2 above.
- Next, determine where the add-in file is saved on your computer.
- Close Excel.
- Then go to the location of the add-in and delete or rename it.
- Open Excel and navigate back to the Add-ins menu in the Options window.
- Press the “Go…” button to open the Add-ins window.
- Click the add-in you just deleted.
- A message box will appear asking you if you want to permanently delete the add-in. Click Yes.
You've now permanently deleted the add-in from the Add-ins Window menu.
You can also use this process for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Install an Excel Add-In
Now that you know how to disable and remove Excel add-ins, check out my video blog post on how to install an add-in.
And for a complete list of all of the useful Excel Campus add-ins available for purchase, you can go here.
Hi, one of my excel COM add-in showing location mscoree.dll
I m trying to remove it unsuccessfully for some time
if you can please guide
Thanks
Same issue as Prashant. How to uninstall mscoree.dll addins?
[…] We also have a guide on how to Uninstall an add-in. […]
Deleting an xlam file as shown under “To Completely Remove an Add-in” will result in Excel popping up a warning every time you open it, saying that it can’t find the file.
Try following this procedure: https://www.thespreadsheetguru.com/blog/prevent-excel-error-message-for-missing-add-in
It has worked for me.
Having the same issue reported by Anthony. Followed procedure to delete Add-in, confirmed Add-in was not in list of active or inactive add-in’s, closed excel, and when reopening Excel, it reports that the file is not found and the add-in shows back up in the Active list.
Thanks so much for this workaround. Never would have thought to rename the file.
Thank You Its Works
Same problem as others report, I follow the instructions to delete an add in and it seems to work but when I close Excel and then restart the addin comes back