Excel for Mac: persistent "This add-in is no longer available" on new blank workbooks (!) after removing the side-loaded add-in and clearing all possible caches

[wh1t3cAt1k]

I used to have a side-loaded version of our Velixo add-in in my Excel for Mac at some point.

Since then, I have removed the manifest from the wef folder, and I also completely cleared the cache, as per the guide, removing all following directories:

~/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft.OsfWebHost/Data/
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Documents/wef
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Caches/
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/16.0/Wef/
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2/Data/Caches/com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2/
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2/Data/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2/

I have also used the personality menu ("Clear Web Cache"). Then I also restarted Excel. Then I also rebooted the computer.

Your Environment

• Platform [PC desktop, Mac, iOS, Office on the web]: Mac
• Host [Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.]: Excel
• Office version number: Version 16.98 (25051413)
• Operating System: Mac OS Sequoia 15.4.1 (24E263)

Actual behavior

Even after all the above steps, I run a simple CF from our add-in "=VELIXOVERSION()" function, and it shows me the "this add-in is no longer available" error message. Clearly, it is trying to call the CF from the non-existent sideloaded version.,

Installing the production add-in from the store does not help, and all Velixo custom functions remain stuck in #BUSY.

I am completely blocked.

Expected behavior

If a side-loaded add-in is not detected, all traces of it should automatically be removed from the computer without the need to clear the cache.

NOTE that this issue occurs even on new workbooks that cannot even theoretically have the old sideloaded add-in registration. It's an issue with the Excel cache.

Useful logs

Session ID: 2526B76A-6BB5-4DB5-AC0D-FCBF9443BA14

[microsoft-github-policy-service]

Thank you for letting us know about this issue. We will take a look shortly. Thanks.

[github-actions]

Here are some similar issues that might help you. Please check if they can solve your problem.

• Add-in Error - This add-in is no longer available #256

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Possible solution (Extracted from existing issue, might be incorrect; please verify carefully)

Solution 1:

I deleted ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word, and then I could side-load in the Desktop version again.

Reference:

• Add-in Error - This add-in is no longer available #256 (comment)

Solution 2:

You guys on Mac having this problem. You might want to try my dirty solution if that works for you. Maybe backup the ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.{host} before attempting it.

Reference:

• Add-in Error - This add-in is no longer available #256 (comment)
• Add-in Error - This add-in is no longer available #256 (comment)

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[wh1t3cAt1k]

It seems only one step helped: removing ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel, entirely.

[penglongzhaochina]

It seems only one step helped: removing ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel, entirely.
Does this solve your issue?

[wh1t3cAt1k]

This solves my issue, but the documentation didn't. At least it's worth it to expose more user-friendly options for clearing the office cache (like on Windows in Trust Center), or mention this method in the documentation.

[penglongzhaochina]

Hi Pavel Kabir (@wh1t3cAt1k)

Thank you, we will update documentation to make it clearly.