ExcelRewind — troubleshooting
Fixes for the most common issue: the add-in disappearing from Excel, or not
appearing after you click Add. This is almost always Excel's add-in cache, not your
account — your licence and data are unaffected.
The add-in vanished / won't appear after "Add"
Excel caches sideloaded add-ins aggressively; an Office update or repair can leave that cache
in a broken state where the add-in silently won't load. Two ways to fix it:
Easiest — the repair tool (double-click)
- Download and unzip the repair tool.
- Double-click "Repair ExcelRewind" inside it.
- Approve the Windows prompt, then follow the simple Yes/No dialogs — it closes Excel,
resets the add-in cache, and re-registers ExcelRewind for you.
⬇ Download the repair tool (.zip)
Windows SmartScreen may warn that the files are from the internet — they're small, unsigned,
plain-text scripts you can open in Notepad first. If SmartScreen blocks the double-click,
choose More info → Run anyway. If Windows says the file is blocked,
right-click the downloaded .zip → Properties → tick Unblock
→ OK before unzipping (or unblock the extracted files the same way). The tool
self-elevates (registering the add-in catalog needs admin) and touches nothing outside Excel's
add-in cache and the ExcelRewind folder.
Prefer to run it yourself? Just the script:
repair-excelrewind.ps1
(right-click → Run with PowerShell).
Manual — if you prefer to do it yourself
- Fully close Excel (save your work first).
- Delete the contents of the Excel add-in cache. Press
Win + R, paste
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef, Enter, and delete everything inside
that folder.
- Reopen Excel → Insert tab → My Add-ins →
Shared Folder tab → select ExcelRewind → Add.
If the Shared Folder tab is empty (ExcelRewind isn't even listed), the
catalog registration was lost — reinstall from the button below.
Reinstall from scratch
If the repair tool didn't help, a clean reinstall always works:
Open the installer →
Other quick checks
- "Record" does nothing / errors about Office API — you're viewing the add-in
in a normal browser tab. It only works inside Excel's task pane; install it and open it from
the Excel ribbon.
- Companion won't connect — make sure the ExcelRewind Companion is running
(Start Menu), then in the pane: ⚙ Settings → Companion → Connect, and approve the prompt.
Get it at excelrewind.com/companion.
- Excel on the web — sideloaded desktop catalogs don't apply; use Insert →
Add-ins → Upload My Add-in with the manifest from the installer page.
Still stuck? Email
support@excelrewind.com with what you see under
Insert → My Add-ins → Shared Folder.
ExcelRewind is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by
Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft and Excel are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.