Removing Add-ins

Whenever you install an add-in in Excel, it is added to an internal list of available add-ins. This list is used by Excel whenever you display the Add-ins dialog box. (The Add-ins dialog box is where you are shown available add-ins and can use a check box to indicate which should be enabled when running Excel.) Removing a previously installed add-in so that it doesn't appear in the Add-ins dialog box can be a confusing process, since Excel provides no way to directly edit that internal list of add-ins. You can get around this frustration, however, by following these steps:

1. Get out of Excel.
2. Use the tools in Windows (such as the Search tool) to locate the add-in file you want removed. You can locate add-in files by their file name extension: either .xla or .xlam, depending on your version of Excel.
3. Delete, rename, or move the add-in file.
4. Start Excel. If the add-in was one that was automatically loaded when Excel first starts, you will get a message from Excel indicating that it cannot find your missing add-in file.
5. Answer Yes when prompted if you want to remove the add-in file from the list.
6. If the add-in was not one that started automatically, choose Add-Ins from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Add-Ins dialog box, and your deleted add-in should still be listed as available. (Remember; this dialog box represents the internal list of add-ins, and hasn't been updated.)
7. Select the check box next to the add-in you want deleted. This informs Excel you want to use the add-in.
8. Click on OK. You should get the same message described in step 4.
9. Answer Yes when prompted if you want to remove the add-in file from the list.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2733) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Removing Add-ins.