How to Enable Share Workbook in Excel

This is an overview.

Method 1 – Enabling the Share Workbook Button in Excel

To make the Share Workbook button visible in the Review tab:

Steps

• Press ALT+F+T to open Excel Options.
• Choose All Commands.
• Click the Review tab in Main Tabs.
• Select New Group to add a Custom Group.
• Select Rename.

• Change Display Name and select a Symbol for the commands of the group.
• Click OK.

• In All Commands select Share Workbook (Legacy).
• Click the Add button. Here, it is grayed out because it was already added to the group.

• Add Protect Sharing (Legacy) and Track Changes (Legacy).
• Click OK.

The commands are visible in the Review tab.

• Select Share Workbook (Legacy).
• Check Use the old shared workbooks feature instead of the new co-authoring experience.
• Click OK.

• In the warning window, click OK.

• You can also share your workbook by selecting the Protect and Share Workbook (Legacy) button. This will prevent other users from unsharing the workbook: use a password.

• To use the added buttons, keep the cursor on the Share Workbook (Legacy) button. Excel will display a message saying that workbooks containing tables can’t be shared.

• If the workbook contains tables, Excel will display the following error. You need to convert the tables to ranges and remove any XML maps.

• You shouldn’t share workbooks containing personal information. To remove it, press ALT+F+T to open Excel Options.
• Select Trust Center Settings in Trust Center.

• Check Remove personal information from file properties on save in Privacy Options.
• Click OK.
• Click OK again.

You’ll  be able the share the workbook.

Read More: Setting Permissions for a Shared File in Excel

Method 2 – Sharing a Workbook in Excel 2016 | 2019 | 365

Steps

• Click Share or select File >> Share.

• Upload your workbook to OneDrive.

• Click Anyone with the link can edit.

• Choose Specific people.

• Enter the email addresses of the users you want to share the workbook with.
• Click Send.

• You will see a confirmation message:

• Alternatively, you can send the file as an Excel workbook or a PDF via email.

• To change the sharing permissions,  click Share.
• Click the dotted menu at the upper right corner.
• Select Manage access.

• Click the permission type below the names.

• You can see who is editing the workbook on the Ribbon. Click the names to go to the cells they are editing.

Read More: How to Share Excel File for Multiple Users

Method 3 – Sharing a Workbook in Excel 2007 | 2013

 Steps

• Select Review >> Share Workbook.
• Check Allow changes by more than one user at the same time in Editing.
• Click OK.
• Save the workbook on a network server.

Method 4 – Sharing a Workbook in Excel 2003 and Earlier Versions

Steps

• Go to Tools and click Share Workbook.
• Go to Editing and check Allow changes by more than one user at the same time.
• Click OK. Select File >> Save As.
• Save the workbook on a network server.

Related Articles

• How to See Who Is in a Shared Excel File
• [Fixed!] Unshare Workbook Greyed Out in Excel

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