How To Fix Cannot Insert Object In Excel?

If you are an experienced Excel user, then you must be quite familiar with the several functionalities of this application. Like formulas, functions, calculations, and inserting objects into the spreadsheet. Well, our today’s topic is about this specific functionality of inserting objects in Excel workbook.

Have you ever stuck with this “Excel cannot insert object” issue meanwhile attempting to incorporate an external object into the Excel spreadsheet? Do you have any idea why it’s occurring or how to resolve it?

If not, then without any further ado…!

Let’s have a look over the quick tutorial which is mainly aimed to explain how fix cannot Insert Object error In Excel. we will demonstrate the complete symptom, causes, and resolution of the cannot Insert Object In Excel 2007/2013/2016/2019.

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Why I Can’t Insert Object In Excel?

This problem may be generated because of having some issue in the document you are trying to add. Or the setting you have done on your excel worksheet is somewhere get wrong. Or the security provision applied on your PC is set properly. Let’s discuss them in detail…!

Reason 1# Locked Worksheet or Workbook

Microsoft Excel protection features, present on the Excel ribbon’s review tab. Actually, this will lock the worksheet cells or workbook documents for preserving up its content. After applying such users are unable to insert any object into the Excel document.

Before protecting the worksheet, you can easily unlock some of the specific cells. But this will help you in performing calculations and for entering text, not for file insertion. For achieving file insertion capabilities, you need to turn off the protection feature in your Excel workbook.

Reason 2# Administrative Security Policies

Sometimes system administrator of the PC network also activates various levels of security requirements. This ultimate show affects in how Excel and other Office applications respond to files which you will be receiving through network connections or email attachments. Files that contain macro code, ActiveX controls, and other linked assets go through the additional inquiry round when any user tries to access them. At that time Office security features will get active.

To make the specific file accessible in your Excel workbook you need to change the system administrator security setting temporarily.

Besides that, you can also approach the compliant version having controls, macros, and remove links from the person who has sent you the document.

Reason 3# Protected PDFs

Excel users can also insert objects like PDF files into their MS Excel Worksheet. This gives you the option to crop or resize the PDF File but not to edit it. If during the insertion of a PDF file in excel you will get an error message then the chances are also that some issue occurred in the Adobe Reader Feature called Protected Mode.

Well, this protected mode is mainly used to prevent the execution of malicious code from PDF files.  And thus, it limits the PDF File to get executed properly.

For changing the level of protectiveness, you need to make changes in the Adobe Reader’s preferences.

Reason 4# Damaged, Corrupt or Incomplete File

The external file which you are trying to insert in the Excel worksheet is maybe the damaged one. Or it may contain corrupt resources or not having a piece of information necessary for viable documents. At that time the excel application will display an error message regarding Can’t Insert Object In Excel.

Maybe your external file is damaged by email attachment, storage media issue, or electrical power fluctuation, mainly at the time of saving the file.

Apart from this, if you attempt to access a file that another user is still saving or uploading on your network. This will automatically declare the object as a corrupted one and it won’t work even if you insert it within your Excel workbook.

To fix this issue, you need to obtain another fresh copy of the document from the source. After then perform the file insertion process again.

It is usually seen that “Cannot Insert Object In Excel 2013” is encountered in an ActiveX custom Office solution after the installation of the MS14-082 security update.

What Are The Circumstances Under Which Cannot Insert Object In Excel Issue Occurs?

After installing the security update mentioned in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS14-082, Excel user may face one of the below-mentioned symptoms.

Circumstances Under Which Cannot Insert Object In Excel Issue Occurs

Symptom 1

While inserting a Forms ActiveX control within a Microsoft Office document,

Or while you are trying to edit the control’s property. You may get the following error messages in an ActiveX custom Office solution:

  • Visio cannot insert this control because its TypeInfo did not merge correctly. Ensure all parameter types are VBA friendly. Delete TEMP *.exd file if necessary.
  • Object library invalid or contains references to object definitions that could not be found.
  • Cannot insert the object.
  • The program used to create this object is Forms. That program is either not installed on your computer or it is not responding. To edit this object, install Forms or ensure that any dialog boxes in Forms are closed.

Note: in the above last error message, the text Forms can be replaced with GUID of control.

Symptom 2

If you are using the Office, Click-to-Run for installing Office 2013 on your PC that has a Side-by-Side installation of the Office 2010 OR 2007 suite. at that time also you may encounter the same errors which are mentioned above in the “Symptom 1” section.

Symptom 3

After saving up your Microsoft Excel workbook which contains ActiveX control on a PC having MS14-082 installed. In that case, Excel macro won’t work properly that doesn’t have MS14-082 installed.

Symptom 4

When the recent office update contains a broken ActiveX controls on Excel worksheets. At that time also the following symptom will appear:

  • Unable to change or use properties of any Active controls on Excel worksheets
  • Excel Error messages “Can’t insert object”
  • Error 438 when referring to an ActiveX control like a member of Excel worksheet in code

How To Fix “Cannot Insert Object” Error In Excel?

Fixes To Resolve "Cannot Insert Object" In Excel

Resolution 1

For fixing up cannot insert object in Excel or the issue mentioned in the above symptoms. you need to install the following updates on the affected PC for the entire version of the Office which you have already installed.

It’s important to install updates for the entire office version you have installed to acquire the complete result of the fix. In case you are using the combination of Office MSI-installed products and Office 2013 C2R-installed. Then in that case you have to update all products simultaneously.

Resolution 2

  • At first close all the Office applications.
  • In the Window, explorer makes a search for *.exd files including the hidden and system folders and files. Once you get all those files and folders, delete them off.

Make sure that you will get the following after making search:

C:\users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\Excel8.0\MSForms.exd
C:\users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\VBE\MSForms.exd

  • Now reboot your PC
  • After then restart your Office applications and check the controls whether it’s working properly or not.

Note:

Whenever you use the Excel workbook with active control this will recreate the .exd files again. So, it’s not that big issue just delete it again if you find Cannot Insert Object In Excel error again.

Hopefully, that will resolve the problem for you.

Remarks:

If you are facing difficulty to get these .exd files, then press Win+R for opening up the Run box. After then type %temp% in the box and then press the Enter button. This will open the Temp folder location and here you make a search for .exd files in the VBE and  Excel 8.0.

FAQ:

How Do I Enable Insert Object In Excel?
  • Tap within the cell where you need to insert your object in an Excel spreadsheet.
  • Go to the Insert tab, and then from the “Text” group, hit the Object icon.

Enable Insert Object In Excel

  • Hit the “Create from File” option.
  • Tap to Browse option, and then choose the file which you have to insert.
  • Instead of showing the content file, if you want to insert an icon within your excel sheet. In that case, you need to choose the check box present across Display as icon option.

Enable Insert Object In Excel 1

  • Excel will show your file’s 1st page, if this display as the icon check box is not selected.
  • To open the attached object you need to double click on it. Hit the OK button.
How To Find All Embedded Objects In Excel?

You have the option to find and choose all embedded objects in Excel worksheet by using the feature of Go To Special.

Here are the steps that you need to follow:

  • Open the worksheet in which you have to find all your embedded objects.
  • Hit the F5 key this will open the Go To dialog box.

Find All Embedded Objects In Excel 1

  • In the opened window tap the special button.
  • Within the dialog box of Go To Special, you need to choose the objects option.
  • After that hit the ok button.

Find All Embedded Objects In Excel 2

Now you will see that all the embedded objects start appearing in your active worksheet.

Wrap Up:

Now you must have got enough idea on how to troubleshoot can’t insert object In Excel issue. So, perform all the suggested solutions carefully and easily resolve can’t insert object error in Excel.



Priyanka is a content marketing expert. She writes tech blogs and has expertise in MS Office, Excel, and other tech subjects. Her distinctive art of presenting tech information in the easy-to-understand language is very impressive. When not writing, she loves unplanned travels.