While working in Excel, we often encounter a warning message like this, “External Data Connections have been disabled” when we open an Excel file. A number of Excel users reported this problem as frustrating and annoying. “External Data Connections have been disabled” means that the data connection for the Excel file is coming from an untrusted source. For this reason, Excel has disabled the data connection. In this article, we will learn two effective solutions to remove the warning message “External Data Connections have been disabled” in Excel. So, let’s start this article and explore these solutions.
External Data Connections Have Been Disabled in Excel: 2 Quick Solutions
In this section of the article, we will discuss two quick solutions to remove the warning message like “External Data Connections have been disabled” in Excel. Let’s say, we have the Marks of Grade 6 Students as our dataset. We can see that after opening the Excel file, we have the same warning. Our goal is to remove this warning when we open the Excel file.
1. Using Document Inspector Command
Using the Document Inspector option, we can remove the warning message, “External Data Connections have been disabled”. To solve this problem first, we need to remove the data connections from the workbook. Now, let’s follow the steps mentioned below to do this.
Steps:
- Firstly, go to the File tab from Ribbon.
As a result, you will have the following window on your screen.
- After that, click on the Info option.
- Then, select the Inspect Workbook option.
- Subsequently, choose the Inspect Document option from the drop-down.
Consequently, the Document Inspector dialogue box will open on your worksheet.
- Now, in the Document Inspector dialogue box, click on the Inspect option.
- After that, scroll down and search for Custom XML Data.
- Then, click on the Remove All option.
This will remove all data connections from your workbook.
- Following that, click on Close.
After that, you will be redirected to the worksheet.
- Now, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + S to save your Excel file.
- Then, close your Excel file.
- Following that, re-open the Excel file.
As you can see, the warning message “External Data Connections have been disabled” is no longer visible after opening the Excel file.
Read More: Data Connection Not Refreshing in Excel
2. Editing Trust Center for External Content
Editing the Trust Center is another efficient solution to remove the warning message, “External Data Connections have been disabled”. Now, let’s use the instructions outlined below to do this.
Steps:
- Firstly, go to the File tab from Ribbon.
As a result, the following window will open on your worksheet.
- Now, click on the Options tab.
Consequently, the Excel Options dialogue box will be available on your worksheet.
Note: You can also use the keyboard shortcut ALT + F + T to open the Excel Options dialogue box directly from your worksheet.
- Following that, go to the Trust Center tab in the Excel Options dialogue box.
- Next, click on the Trust Center Settings option.
- Afterward, in the Trust Center dialogue box, go to the External Content tab.
- Then, check the field Enable all Data Connections under the Security settings for Data Connection section.
- Afterward, click OK.
- Following that, you will be redirected to the Excel Options dialogue box and click OK there.
- Now, close your Excel file.
- Subsequently, reopen your Excel file, and you will no longer see the warning message as demonstrated in the following picture.
Read More: Excel Queries and Connections Not Working
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Conclusion
So, these are the most common and effective solutions you can use to remove the warning message “External Data Connections have been disabled” in Excel. If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback related to this article, you can comment below. You can also have a look at our other useful articles on Excel functions and formulas on our website, ExcelDemy.
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