{"id":451008,"date":"2026-10-07T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guidingtech.com\/?p=451008"},"modified":"2026-10-10T13:04:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:34:49","slug":"add-ins-wont-enable-in-office-try-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guidingtech.com\/add-ins-wont-enable-in-office-try-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Add-Ins Won\u2019t Enable in Office? Try This"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Office add-ins not working usually means they don\u2019t get enabled or show up in their space in the toolbar. This is usually a protective measure against add-ins that may be trustworthy or simply not work properly or fail to load. Here\u2019s how to get them running again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 1 \u2013 Restore Items for Office Add-Ins Not Working Due to a Crash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a \u201csecret\u201d Disabled Items list where Office apps put all add-ins that repeatedly crash when the program is opened. It\u2019s usually the first place to look when an add-in keeps switching itself off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Go to \u201cFile,\u201d then to \u201cOptions,\u201d and open the \u201cAdd-ins\u201d tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Set the \u201cManage\u201d drop-down on the bottom to \u201cDisabled Items\u201d and click on \u201cGo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Select the add-in and click \u201cEnable,\u201d then click on \u201cClose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4.<\/strong> If the add-in is a COM add-in, go back to \u201cManage\u201d and choose \u201cCOM Add-ins\u201d to enable it again. Otherwise, simply exist settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5.<\/strong> Restart the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Office disables the add-in again, it may still be causing a stability problem or may be incompatible with your current Office version. Check for an updated version from the add-in\u2019s publisher on its website or the add-in store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 2 \u2013 Adjust Trust Center Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Trust Center can block add-ins across the board while still technically letting you download them. They just won\u2019t show up on the list. You\u2019ll need to provide broad permissions for third-party add-ins for it to get bypassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Find \u201cOptions\u201d and go to the \u201cTrust Center\u201d tab, then click on \u201cTrust Center Settings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Open the \u201cAdd-ins\u201d tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Make sure that the setting for \u201cDisable all Application Add-ins\u201d is unchecked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 4.<\/strong> If the add-in is relatively unknown or made privately (such as an internal feature for your work), check whether \u201cRequire Application Add-ins to be signed by Trusted Publisher\u201d is blocking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5.<\/strong> Click \u201cOK\u201d and restart the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these options are grayed out, they\u2019re set by Group Policy and are managed by a separate account that you likely won\u2019t have access to if you\u2019re using a work or school PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 3 \u2013 Clear the Add-In Cache<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Office Add-ins use local caches to store resources and data. A corrupted cache can cause an add-in to load incorrectly or display errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> In \u201cTrust Center Settings,\u201d open \u201cTrusted Add-in Catalogs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Check \u201cNext time Office starts, clear all previously-started web add-ins cache\u201d and click on \u201dOK.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> Restart the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that option isn\u2019t there, close all Office apps, open the Run utility with \u201cWin + R,\u201d and go to the following folder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

%LOCALAPPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Office\\16.0\\Wef<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then, remove all files from the folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fix 6 \u2013 Check the Clock, Then Update or Repair Office<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Add-ins rely on signed certificates and manifests. This means if you\u2019ve changed your time settings for testing, they may become out of sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1.<\/strong> Open Settings and go to \u201cTime & language.\u201d Make sure to use the option \u201cSet time automatically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2.<\/strong> Go to \u201cFile\u201d and \u201cAccount,\u201d then update Microsoft Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3.<\/strong> If add-ins still won\u2019t load, open \u201cSettings\u201d and go to \u201cInstalled apps,\u201d then try to \u201cModify\u201d Microsoft Office to repair it. This may remove all add-ins so you can add them separately.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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