By importing credentials from Excel files, Word Mail Merge is an effective way to mass produce custom letters, mailing labels, and emails in Word. However, in some cases, users encounter Word Mail Merge not working with Excel caveat.
In this article, we describe the probable causes and their ways to fix the Word Mail Merge not working with Excel issue.
Reasons Behind Word Mail Merge Not Working with Excel
Microsoft Word uses the default OLE DB Database Files conversion when it fetches labels from Excel files. The typical reasons behind Word Mail Merge not working with Excel issue’s occurrences are:
(i) Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft 365 may get corrupted.
(ii) Checked or unchecked status of Confirm file format conversion on open option.
(iii) In the case of emailing, the user has multiple email addresses assigned to his or her profile.
Word Mail Merge Not Working with Excel: 4 Suitable Solutions
Follow the below methods to fix the Word Mail Merge not working while users uses from Excel files to fetch data issue.
Solution 1: Modifying or Repairing Office Application
Often, users change the device’s operating system or meddle with the application, which may corrupt the application. As a result, users need to repair or reinstall the application.
🔼 Type Apps and Features in the Taskbar’s Search option.
🔼 In the Apps & Features window,
➤ Find the Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft 365 application. Then click on it.
➤ 2 executable options appear (i.e., Modify or Uninstall). Choose any of the options to repair.
⧠Tips: Sometimes, modifying an application may not work. Therefore, users may need to reinstall the application.
Read More: How to Make Address Labels in Word from Excel
Solution 2: Unchecking Command from Word Advanced Options
As we mentioned earlier, Microsoft Word uses OLE DB Database Files conversion as its default. But checking the option may result in ill-formatting of fetched data or not working Microsoft Word Mail Merge with Excel.
🔼 Go to Microsoft Word’s File > Options > Advanced > General > Check whether the Confirm file format conversion on open option is checked or not. Then click on OK.
🔼 If the Confirm file format conversion on open option is unchecked, Word will automatically fetch the files from Excel. On the contrary, Word shows the Open data source options as depicted below.
⧠Tips: To avoid the Word Mail Merge not fetching Excel files issue, uncheck the Confirm file format conversion on open option. Also, users can restrict multiple prompt windows by unchecking the option.
Read More: How to Mail Merge from Excel to Word Envelopes
Solution 3: Selecting Dynamic Data Exchange Option
Word fetches information using OLE DB Database Files. However, checking the Confirm file format conversion on open option offers selecting multiple Open data source options. Selecting MS Excel Worksheets via DDE (*xls) restores the cell formats of Excel files in Word and may enable Word to handle the issue.
🔼 Move to Word File > Options > Advanced > General > Check Confirm file format conversion on open option.
🔼 Then in Microsoft Word, move to Mailings > Select Recipients > Click on Use an Existing List.
🔼 Choose a desired Excel file. Afterward, the Confirm Data Source dialog box opens up.
➤ Tick Show all to display all the available options.
➤ Select MS Excel Worksheets via DDE (*xls) to maintain the Excel files’ format in Excel and handle the issue.
Solution 4: Removing Multiple Email Addresses from the Emailing Profile
The most annoying thing is when users execute all the probable solutions yet encounter the Word Mail Merge not working with Excel issue. Users may
🔺 Update Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft 365.
🔺 Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft 365.
🔺 Check or uncheck Confirm file format conversion on open option.
Still, the issue persists. In this case, users may have multiple email addresses assigned to their profile. Applying mail merge for emailing requires a single mail address attached to profiles.
🔼 Maintain a single email address in the profile to fix the Mail Merge not working while working with Excel files issue.
Read More: Macro to Populate a Mail Merge Document from Excel
Conclusion
This article points out the probable reasons behind the Word Mail Merge not working with Excel issue and offers solutions to fix it. Comment if you have further queries or have anything to add.
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