Today’s article explains everything you need to know about how to install an Excel add-in – or plugin, as it’s also known. We’ll show you what it is, why it’s essential for Excel, and how to install this type of Excel file.
Read our step-by-step tutorial on how to install an Excel add-in quickly. Furthermore, download various free add-in collections!
What’s an Excel Add-in?
An add-in is an Excel file that contains VBA modules. The file extension is “.xla” (in earlier Excel versions) or “.xlam” (in Excel 2007 and above).
In most cases, an add-in is a ribbon-controlled application. You can use the main functions through custom buttons, tabs, and drop-down lists. After the successful installation, the add-in will start when Excel is opened. Using custom UI and a little XML manipulation, you can design graphical user interfaces like this:
How to install an Excel Add-in – Step-by-Step Guide
No matter the name, every Excel add-in is installed similarly. Just follow these simple steps for any add-in installation. Installing an add-in is not rocket science; you must follow the simple steps below.
#1. Download the add-in file to your drive
If the package has a .zip extension, extract it. We recommend creating a folder named “DataXL” (or whatever you want). After that, copy or move it to your preferred folder, for example, your Documents folder.
#2. Click Developer Tab
Go to the ribbon and click the Developer tab. Click the Excel add-ins button. A new window will appear.
Optional step: Learn how to enable the Developer tab on the ribbon if you have not seen it.
#3. Locate the add-in file
Click Browse and locate the add-in file.
#4. Select the add-in
Open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing your add-in file. Select the file and click “OK” to add it to the list of available add-ins.
#5. Activate the add-in
Once the file is selected, it should appear in the list of available add-ins. Make sure it is checked, then click “OK” to enable it.
If you are in a hurry, watch our video about how to install the add-in quickly.
Additional steps, known issues, and solutions
We have to make two side notes here. After the successful installation, you have to
- move the add-in to a trusted location
- unblock the add-in (for security reasons)
Download Free Add-ins
DataXL is a free productivity suite for Excel with many time-saving solutions. DataFX is our latest project. We’ve just picked the best Excel user-defined functions and implemented them into one efficient tool.
Additional resources
Formula developer and data visualization enthusiast who loves turning complex Excel challenges into elegant solutions. My passion is building custom LAMBDA functions—each one designed to solve not just one task, but entire groups of related problems. Founder of Excel Dashboard School.
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