IMAGE function throws #CONNECT error for photos on Sharepoint

[mbrownRTs]

The spreadsheet I'm working in uses the IMAGE function to display photos that are on our company's Sharepoint, however sometimes when I open the sheet the function returns a #CONNECT error. I've found that restarting the PC sometimes helps, but I'd like to know if anyone else is experiencing this issue and if there are any known workarounds. The permissions on these images are not changing, as I can view them in a web browser (and occasionally Excel when it works), I assume the problem lies with some Excel/Sharepoint authentication handshake.

[#2]

@mbrownRTs 

The IMAGE function in Excel is designed to retrieve images from a URL. If you are experiencing intermittent #CONNECT errors with images stored on SharePoint, it might be related to network or authentication issues between Excel and SharePoint.

Here are some troubleshooting steps and potential workarounds you can try:

1. Check SharePoint URL:
• Ensure that the SharePoint URL you are using in the IMAGE function is correct and accessible. Make sure the URL points directly to the image file.
2. Internet Connectivity:
• Ensure that your computer has a stable internet connection. A temporary loss of connectivity can lead to the #CONNECT error.
3. SharePoint Permissions:
• Double-check the permissions on the SharePoint site and the image files. Ensure that the user opening the Excel file has the necessary permissions to access the images.
4. Authentication:
• SharePoint often uses integrated Windows authentication. Make sure that your Windows credentials are correctly configured, and you are logged into your Windows account.
5. Office 365 Authentication:
• Ensure that you are signed in to Office 365 with the correct account that has access to SharePoint.
6. Refresh Images:
• After opening the Excel file, try refreshing the images. Right-click on the cell with the IMAGE function, and select "Refresh." This may force Excel to re-establish the connection.
7. Browser View:
• As a workaround, you can consider embedding a Web Browser control in your Excel file to display the SharePoint image. This can be achieved using ActiveX controls.
8. Power Query:
• Depending on your specific scenario, you might consider using Power Query to import and manage the images. Power Query can fetch data from SharePoint and may provide more robust handling of authentication.
9. Excel Online:
• If the issue persists, try opening the Excel file in Excel Online (web version). Sometimes, web-based versions of applications can have different behavior compared to desktop versions.

Remember that the combination of SharePoint, Excel, and network configurations can lead to various issues, and solutions might vary based on specific circumstances. Always ensure that your software is up to date with the latest patches and updates.

NOTE: My knowledge of this topic is limited, but since no one has answered it for at least one day or more, I entered your question in various AI. The text and the steps are the result of various AI's put together. Maybe it will help you further in your project, if not please just ignore it.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

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[#3]

The following article seems to have helped, deleting the Office Cache might be the solution until the problem is fixed: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/testing/clear-cache

Edit: I've found that clicking "Refresh All" under the Data tab is more reliable and significantly easier.