There are different types of add-in programs for Microsoft Office Excel that provide optional commands and features:

You must load an Excel add-in before you can use it. After loading an add-in, the add-in program and its commands will be available on the Data tab, in the Analysis group (Analysis ToolPak and Solver Add-in), or on the Formulas tab, in the Solutions group (Conditional Sum Wizard, Euro Currency Tools, Eurotool, Lookup Wizard).What do you want to do?

Load or unload an Excel add-in program

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Excel Options.
  2. Click the Add-Ins category.
  3. In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
  4. To load an Excel add-in, do the following:
    1. In the Add-Ins available box, select the check box next to the add-in that you want to load, and then click OK.

      Tip If the add-in that you want to use is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse, and then locate the add-in. Add-ins that are not available on your computer can be downloaded from on Office Online.

    2. If the add-in is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it.

      Tip Follow the setup instructions as needed.

  5. To unload an Excel add-in, do the following:
    1. In the Add-Ins available box, clear the check box next to the add-in that you want to unload, and then click OK.
    2. To remove the add-in from the Ribbon, restart Excel.

      Note Unloading or removing an add-in from the Ribbon does not delete the add-in from your computer. To delete the add-in from your computer, you must uninstall it.

      How to uninstall an add-in

      Important If you originally installed the Excel add-in from a network file server or from a shared folder, you must install or remove the add-in from that location. If you installed the Excel add-in from a CD-ROM and you mapped your CD-ROM drive to a new drive letter since installing it, you need to reinstall the add-in from the CD-ROM. If you are running any Excel add-ins from the CD-ROM, you must uninstall the Excel add-ins, and then reinstall them from the CD-ROM.

      1. Quit all programs.
      2. In the Windows Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
      3. Do one of the following:

        If you installed Excel as part of Microsoft Office, click Microsoft Office in the Currently installed programs box, and then click the Change button.

        If you installed Excel individually, click the name of your program in the Currently installed programs box, and then click the Change button.

      4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Load or unload a COM add-in program

Important If you are a developer, you can use this procedure to load or unload a COM add-in before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in. If you are not a developer, you should not need to use this procedure. Contact the system administrator who provided the add-in if you want installation and removal instructions.

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Excel Options.
  2. Click the Add-Ins category.
  3. In the Manage box, click COM Add-ins, and then click Go.
  4. To load a COM add-in, in the Add-Ins available box, select the check box next to the add-in that you want to load, and then click OK.

    Tip If the add-in that you want to use is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Add, and then locate the add-in.

  5. To unload a COM add-in, do one of the following:
    • In the Add-Ins available box, clear the check box next to the add-in that you want to unload, and then click OK.

      Note This unloads the add-in from memory but keeps its name in the list of available add-ins. It does not delete the add-in from your computer.

    • To remove a COM add-in from the list of available add-ins and to delete the add-in from your computer, click its name in the Add-ins available box, and then click Remove.

Load or unload an automation add-in program

Important If you are a developer, you can use this procedure to load or unload an automation program before you design installation and removal programs for your add-in. If you are not a developer, you should not need to use this procedure. Contact the system administrator who provided the add-in if you want installation and removal instructions.

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Excel Options.
  2. Click the Add-Ins category.
  3. In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
  4. To load an automation add-in, click Automation, and then click the add-in that you want in the Automation servers available box.

    Tip If the add-in that you want isn't in the list, click Browse, locate the add-in, and then click OK.

  5. To unload an automation add-in, you must remove it from the registry. See your system administrator for details.