Fixes for the most common issue: the add-in disappearing from Excel, or not
appearing after you click Add. This is almost always Excel's add-in cache, not your
account - your licence and data are unaffected.
The add-in vanished / won't appear after "Add"
Excel caches sideloaded add-ins aggressively; an Office update or repair can leave that cache
in a broken state where the add-in silently won't load. Two easy ways to fix it:
Easiest - re-run the installer (it repairs everything)
Close Excel first (save your work), then run the installer again. It resets
Excel's add-in cache and re-registers ExcelRewind - the same one-click setup as the first
time, and it doubles as the repair tool.
If Windows shows a blue "Windows protected your PC" box, that's expected for an
unsigned app and safe to bypass - click More info, then Run anyway
(pictured below). If Windows says the downloaded file is blocked, right-click
ExcelRewind-Setup.exe → Properties → tick Unblock → OK,
then run it.
1. Click More info.2. Click Run anyway.
Manual - no download, all in Explorer
Fully close Excel (save your work first).
Delete the contents of the Excel add-in cache. Press Win + R, paste
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef, Enter, and delete everything inside
that folder.
If the Shared Folder tab is empty (ExcelRewind isn't even listed), the
catalog registration was lost - reinstall with the button above.
Other quick checks
"Record" does nothing / errors about Office API - you're viewing the add-in
in a normal browser tab. It only works inside Excel's task pane; install it and open it from
the Excel ribbon.
Companion won't connect - make sure the ExcelRewind Companion is running
(Start Menu), then in the pane: Settings → Companion → Connect, and approve the prompt.
The Companion installs with ExcelRewind; if it's missing, re-run
ExcelRewind-Setup.exe and tick the Companion component.
Excel on the web - sideloaded desktop catalogs don't apply; use Insert →
Add-ins → Upload My Add-in with the manifest from the
install page.
Still stuck? Email
[email protected] with what you see under
Insert → My Add-ins → Shared Folder.
ExcelRewind is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by
Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft and Excel are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.