In Excel 2016+ versions, you can go to the Data tab and select the Get Data drop-down to get the From Web option that extracts data from websites. For Mac devices, click on the Data tab, select Get External Data, and press Run Web Query.
However, if you can’t find the Get Data From Web option or it’s grayed out, the file might be protected, locked with a password, or editing mode is active in some other cells. It can also be an outdated Excel version or an older format workbook (such as .xls).
Other reasons include corrupted installation, the Excel add-in turned off, and an active VBA macro.
➤ To enable the grayed-out get data from web feature, make sure you unlock or unprotect an Excel file by pressing Enable Editing or going to the Review tab >> Protect group >> Unprotect Sheet/Workbook. Enter a password if needed.
➤ Go to the File tab >> Options >> Data. Under Show Legacy Data Import Wizards, check the box for From Web (Legacy) and click Ok. Restart Excel after making this change.
➤ If the title bar of your Excel window shows Compatibility Mode next to the file name, click on the File tab >> Info >> select the Convert button. When prompted, confirm the file upgrade to convert an .xls format file to an .xlsx format.
This article covers why the Get Data From Web option is not selectable in an Excel file and how to make it available again.
Fix Corrupted MS Office Installation
Before we start, make sure you’re using the latest Excel version with a proper Microsoft Office subscription. If you’re using an older, standalone version of Excel (like Excel 2013, 2016, or 2019) that did not include Power Query by default, you need to download and install the Power Query Add-in separately from the Microsoft Website.
In case the problem persists after downloading, it can be due to a corrupted installation. Here’s how to fix it:
➤ Close all Office applications. From your computer, click on the Windows icon and go to the Control Panel (Windows) or Settings (Windows 10/11).
➤ Find the Programs option and click on it. Press the Programs and Features or Apps option.
➤ Locate your Microsoft Office installation, right-click on it, and choose Change or Modify.
➤ Select the Quick Repair option and press Repair (and if that fails, try the Online Repair).
➤ Restart Excel after the repair completes and check if the Get Data From Web option is now selectable.
Customize Ribbon to Access the Get Data From Web Feature
If you can’t find the Get Data or From Web option on the main ribbon, you need to customize it to add the options. To explain the next methods, we’ll use this sample product inventory dataset:
Let’s get to the steps:
➤ Right-click on the Excel ribbon, select Customize the Ribbon.
➤ From the Customize the Ribbon group (on the right-hand list of commands), check if the Data box is checked and it has the Get & Transform Data group.
➤ If not, click on the drop-down under the Choose Commands From option. In the box below, scroll down to find the Get Data option. Click on it, select New Tab >> Add. You can also add the From Web option following the same process. Press Ok once done.
➤ You can now click on Get Data or From Web from the new tab of the ribbon.
Enable Editing for Locked Workbooks
When you protect a workbook to prevent accidental edits, it disables many import and editing options, including the Get Data From Web feature. Similarly, Excel’s Cell Edit Mode also prevents making changes from the ribbon.
To disable workbook/sheet protection and edit mode, follow the steps given below:
Disable Workbook/Sheet Protection
➤ Look for the Enable Editing option under the top ribbon options. Click on it to enable data modifications.
➤ For a protected workbook/worksheet, go to the Review tab and navigate to the Protection group.
➤ Check if the Unprotect Sheet or Protect Workbook button is available. If so, click it and enter the password if required.
Disable Cell Editing Mode
➤ If you’re currently editing the content of a cell (the cursor is active in the formula bar or a cell), Excel disables many ribbon commands.
➤ Press the Esc key or hit Enter to exit cell edit mode.
Change Outdated Workbook Format (Compatibility Mode)
Excel often disables modern features when you work on an older-format workbook (e.g., .xls format from Excel 97-2003) to ensure backward compatibility. To make a file compatible, follow the steps given below:
➤ Open the workbook, click on the File tab, and choose Info. Select the Convert button.
➤ Now, Excel will prompt you to upgrade the file to the latest format (.xlsx) or save as Excel Workbook. Press Save or Ok to confirm the action.
➤ Once converted, the modern Data tab features, including Get Data From Web, will become available.
Enable Legacy Data Import Wizards
In some cases, you need the legacy data import wizards enabled to add the Get Data From Web option in the top ribbon. For this, follow these steps:
➤ Go to the File tab and select Options from the left column.
➤ In the Excel Options dialog box, click on Data. Under the Show Legacy Data Import Wizards group, check the From Web (Legacy) box.
➤ Press Ok. Close Excel and reopen it to check the result.
Remove External Content Restrictions from Security Settings
External content in Office documents can be blocked by security settings. This might affect web data import using the Get Data From Web option. Here’s how to change the settings:
➤ First, if a security warning bar appears when opening a file, click Enable Content to unblock external content.
➤ Otherwise, go to the File tab >> Options >> Trust Center >> Trust Center Settings.
➤ In the Trust Center dialog box, check the Prompt User About Data Connection box.
➤ Uncheck the Always Block the Connection of Untrusted Microsoft Query Files (.iqy, .oqy, .dqy, and .rqy) box. Press Ok.
Disable Conflicting Add-Ins
Some functions of COM Add-ins in Excel might conflict with Power Query web import. In this case, you can turn them off and see if the From Web option becomes selectable. Below are the steps:
➤ Go to the File tab >> Options.
➤ From the Excel Options box, select Add-ins. From the Manage drop-down, select COM Add-ins and press Go.
➤ In the new window, uncheck the active add-ins (all except Power Query in Older Excel). You can also disable them one by one to identify the problematic one.
➤ Press Ok and see if it worked.
Disable Problematic Macros
Although rare, a VBA macro can be programmed to disable Excel’s user interface elements, including ribbon buttons. You can either edit the problematic macro or temporarily disable all macros to access the Get Data From Web feature. Here’s how:
Steps to Edit Macro
➤ Go to the Developer tab and select Macros
➤ Click on a macro and press the Edit button to inspect the code.
➤ Look for code that uses commands like Application.EnableEvents = False or specifically targets the ribbon control.
➤ Delete the command or remove the macro entirely. For this, click on the macro name from the Developer tab and press Delete. If prompted, confirm your action.
Steps to Disable All Macros
➤ Open the File tab >> Options. Select the Trust Center from the list of options in the Excel Options dialog box.
➤ Click the Trust Center Settings button.
➤ In the new dialog box, select Macro Settings from the left-hand menu.
➤ From the given options, choose Disable VBA Macros with Notification to disable all macros but show a security alert if they are present.
➤ Click Ok to save your changes and close the dialog box. You can later change it to Enable VBA Macros to run macros on Excel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get Excel to pull data from a website without Power Query?
When the Get Data From Web is unavailable, you can use an Excel formula to pull specific web data. If the website provides data as plain text, JSON, or XML, you can use:
=WEBSERVICE("https://api.exchangerate.host/latest?base=USD")
Replace the link as needed and This formula will pull the web content (like exchange rates) directly into the cell as text. To extract a specific value (like the EUR rate), combine it with FILTERXML:
=FILTERXML(WEBSERVICE("https://api.exchangerate.host/latest?base=USD"), "//*[local-name()='EUR']")
How do I unlock a greyed-out cell in Excel?
Select the cells you want to unlock and go to the Home tab >> Font group >> Font Settings launcher (small arrow). Or, press Ctrl + Shift + F or Ctrl + 1 . In the Format Cells dialog box, open the Protect tab. Uncheck Locked and click Ok. Then go to the Review tab >> Unprotect Sheet to access the contents of locked cells.
Why are data options greyed out in Excel?
Data options (like Refresh, Queries, or Connections) are disabled if the workbook is shared or protected. Also, the Group Policy or Admin Restrictions can disable external connections. To fix it, go to the Review tab >> Protect group >> Unshare Workbook. To change Group Policy, ask your IT admin to review the policy by opening the Group Policy Management Editor (GPMC) and clicking User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Excel >> Data Connections.
Concluding Words
For most individual users, checking their Excel version and ensuring the workbook is not in Protected or Compatibility Mode is the solution to enabling Get Data From Web. If you’re an Excel user in a corporate setting, the issue is likely an IT-enforced Group Policy designed to maintain security and data integrity. In this case, you need to ask your IT admin to withdraw the restrictions.
