helloPlease help me with following task - I try to remove external links from excel:Data==>Edit Links==>break linkIt does not work - still I have that external links in the list. Even I close and open excel file - still have it.

I sent a private email to Jan Karel, but thought others might benefit to see what I discovered.-------Before sending the excel to you, I decided to remove a lot of stuff that I was sure would not be the issue, since they were recently added. But, as I did so, I realized that I could do so incrementally, and perhaps narrow the problem down. I continued until I only had one cell that caused the problem. It was a Data Validation cell. The FindLink.xla program could not find it. Perhaps the creator of FindLink.xla could modify it to see these types of links. But if not, I wonder if a program could be created that would systematically delete portions of a spreadsheet. 1) Save as Test.xls2) Delete half the tabs , save as Test13) Open Test1, and see if the error occurs. a) if no error, close Test1, then re-open Test and delete the other half of the tabs. b) If error, delete half of the remaining tabs.4) Repeat the above cycle, until only 1 tab remains.5) Do a similar process for the rows of the spreadsheet, then the columns, until only one cell remains, which is the problem cell. There would need to be some method to keep track of the cells, so that at the end, it could say what tab and cell reference was a problem. I also imagine there may be multiple cell reference problems. So, I guess my steps a and b, both Test.xls and Test1.xls files should be checked for the external reference error. Attached is the problem spreadsheet. It is empty, with just cell A1 containing the external data validation link. Unfortunately, I didn't work on a way to keep track of which cell it was. At least I know which tab. -Joe Dunfee

The industry standard tool for links can be found here: FindLink

I highly recommend FindLink which is also capable of removing them, see http://www.manville.org.uk/software/findlink.htm

I had same issue. Here's what I didFormulas Tab --> Name Manager --> Deleted all names[Check what cells they refer to before deleting] FYI : Break links didn't work for me too..

I found using the compatibility checker for 97-2000 format was enough, let me identify that there was a conditional formatting rule referencing the linked workbook

how to remove external links from excel

MAGhori
Copper Contributor
Aug 22, 2022
Kacper Modzelewksi

If your problem is not resolving by deleting links option in available in Data-Edit Link than you should try Name Manager option available in Formula option.

Sometimes some name got link with some files and got messy due to repeated use remove unknow names showing errors your problem will be solved.

M A Ghori
1800100MS
Copper Contributor
Aug 22, 2020
I had same issue. Here's what I did
Formulas Tab --> Name Manager --> Deleted all names
[Check what cells they refer to before deleting]

FYI : Break links didn't work for me too..
- jayhawksfan
  Copper Contributor
  May 28, 2021
  This worked perfect, thanks!
Leon Tribe
MVP
Nov 18, 2018
I had the same problem. Break Links did nothing. In the end I saved the file in the 97-2003 version (which stripped out the links as they weren't supported) and then converted back.
- Kacper Modzelewski
  Copper Contributor
  Sep 23, 2019
  Leon Tribe good idea, but if I save mine in 97-2000 format, it will remove all new features like security features which are unfortunately necessarily for my case. So for this particular secure files, it will not work for me...
  - GilesB4tch
    Copper Contributor
    May 26, 2021
    I found using the compatibility checker for 97-2000 format was enough, let me identify that there was a conditional formatting rule referencing the linked workbook
- JKPieterse
  Silver Contributor
  Nov 19, 2018
  Odd. Links have been supported by Excel as far back as version 4 (1990), so I am surprised this worked for you.
  - Leon Tribe
    MVP
    Nov 19, 2018
    Beats me. I had a link to another file which 'break links' wouldn't touch so I saved then back again and no more file link :)
SergeiBaklan
MVP
Aug 10, 2017
Hi Kacper,

Please check this https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Excel/Remove-link/m-p/92442 if it helps
- Kacper Modzelewksi
  Copper Contributor
  Aug 16, 2017
  Hello,
  
  I followed up with https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Excel/Remove-link/m-p/92442 and https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/953-excel-list-all-links.html
  - installed Kutools, however I can not remove external links with that tool. I cnan ot find any links with search option " [ ".
  
  Extarnal links still are there and when I open workbook, it every time asks me to update those links, which is very annoying and does not look proffessionals to clients...
  - JKPieterse
    Silver Contributor
    Aug 16, 2017
    The industry standard tool for links can be found here: FindLink

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how to remove external links from excel

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