Forum Discussion
SharePoint "Export to Excel" tab missing
The "Export to Excel" option in SharePoint Online allows users to export data from lists or libraries to an Excel file. If some users are unable to see the "Export to Excel" tab, there could be a few potential causes:
Clearing the cache is a common troubleshooting step that can help resolve various browser-related issues. First of all, clear the cache for the users who have the problem and restart, and if this didn't help, then try the next steps.
- Permissions: Although you mentioned that the users have the highest permissions, it's possible that their specific permissions may not include the necessary rights to access the "Export to Excel" feature. In SharePoint, users need at least "Design" or "Full Control" permissions to export data to Excel. Double-check the users' permission levels and ensure they have the required access rights.
- Feature availability: The availability of certain features in SharePoint Online can be controlled at the site collection level or through site features. It's possible that the "Export to Excel" feature has been disabled or not activated for the specific site or site collection. To check this, follow these steps:
- Go to the SharePoint site where the "Export to Excel" tab is missing. b. Click on the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner and select "Site Settings." c. Under the "Site Actions" section, click on "Manage site features." d. Look for a feature called "Offline Client Availability" or similar. If it is not activated, activate it and see if the "Export to Excel" tab appears.
- Browser or client limitations: Some features in SharePoint may have limitations depending on the browser or client being used. Ensure that the users are accessing SharePoint using a supported browser and that they have the latest updates installed. Additionally, check if the "Export to Excel" option is available in other browsers or SharePoint client applications to isolate any browser-specific issues.
Please remember to always test any changes or updates in a non-production environment before applying them to your live SharePoint site.
I have the same problem (new to managing sharepoint)
I've had success (sort of, if you disregard it changing central time to pacific time) with a tiny test excel, but my goal is creating a list from an excel file on sharepoint that is updated daily. The excel file comes from a client (it's a work assignment list that goes out a couple of months). I manually copy the file (it comes as an email attachment) and past values into the existing sheet. When I do this it formats a date column (formatted as date) into the integer value for the date, only with a decimal point before the last 2 digits on the right.
So I thought I would experiment by exporting from the sharepoint excel file to list but also do not have the export option. I'm using Windows 10.
Permission settings confirm I have full control over this excel file.
I'm confused why List doesn't have more formatting options for numbers as well.
Why you don’t see Export to Excel
The “Export to Excel” option in SharePoint Online is only available for SharePoint Lists and Libraries (where items/documents are stored), not for Excel files themselves.
From what you described:
You have an Excel file uploaded to SharePoint.
You open it in the browser and expect to see “Export to Excel.”
That won’t work — because the file is already an Excel file, so SharePoint won’t give you that option. The button is only for exporting list or library data to Excel.
That’s why you don’t see the option, even though you’re on Windows 10 with full control permissions.
The date formatting problem
When you paste values into your existing Excel sheet, the dates turning into numbers with decimals (####.##) is happening because Excel is treating those as serial date values. For example:
45123 = January 1, 2023
45123.50 = Jan 1, 2023 at 12:00pm (the decimal = time fraction of the day).
So Excel isn’t “breaking” your data — it’s just showing raw numbers when formatting doesn’t match. If you reapply a Date format to that column, they’ll show as dates again.
How to achieve your real goal
You said your goal is:
“creating a list from an excel file on SharePoint that is updated daily.”
Here’s the recommended path:
1. Create a SharePoint List from Excel (one-time setup):
Go to your SharePoint site.
New → List → From Excel.
Upload your Excel file, map the columns, and SharePoint will create a real list.
2. Automate updates (instead of manually copy/paste):
Since you get the Excel file daily from a client:Use Power Automate (Flow) to:
Trigger when a new file arrives (from email or folder).
Parse the Excel rows.
Update your SharePoint List automatically.
This way:
Your users can always view/export the list.
Date columns behave properly.
No manual pasting = fewer formatting headaches.
3. Formatting in SharePoint Lists:
You’re right — the number formatting options are limited in Lists. If you need more advanced reporting:Connect the SharePoint List to Excel (via Data → Get Data → From Online Services → SharePoint Online List),
Or use Power BI for better formatting/visualization.
In short:
You don’t see “Export to Excel” because you’re working on an Excel file, not a SharePoint List.
To solve your problem, first convert your Excel into a SharePoint List, then automate updates with Power Automate.
