Fix most common issues with SharePoint Import Spreadsheet functionality

By João Ferreira Jan 3, 2018 Office 365, SharePoint 12 Comments

Every once in a while, I stumble across SharePoint functionalities that are only available when using Internet Explorer, on this post I’ll explain you how to overcome two common issues when trying to import a spreadsheet into a SharePoint list.

If you are dealing with the error messages below this post is for you.

This feature requires a browser that supports ActiveX controls

ActiveX is a software framework created by Microsoft that adapts its earlier Component Object Model (COM) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technologies for content downloaded from a network, particularly from the World Wide Web. Microsoft introduced ActiveX in 1996. In principle, ActiveX is not dependent on Microsoft Windows operating systems, but in practice most ActiveX controls only run on Windows.

Wikipedia ActiveX

ActiveX components will not work on any modern browser, including Microsoft Edge, they are only available through Internet Explorer which means that the only way to get a Spreadsheet into SharePoint is using Internet Explorer.

	ActiveX Support
Google Chrome
Firefox
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Internet Explorer

The specified file is not a valid spreadsheet or contains data to import

Even when using Internet Explorer this functionality can present errors to the user, if after uploading the spreadsheet you are presented with the message “The specified file is not a valid spreadsheet or contains data to import” follow the steps below:

On Internet Explorer go to Settings
Select Internet Options
Open the Security tab
Select the Trusted sites
Add your SharePoint site to this zone
Reduce the Security level to Medium-low
Restart Internet Explorer

How to import an Excel Spreadsheet to SharePoint

Now that you know how to solve the most common issues with the import Spreadsheet feature lets check all the steps needed to get your file content copied to SharePoint.

Go to the Internet options and make sure your SharePoint site is added to the Trusted zone and the security level is set to Medium-low
Open your SharePoint site using Internet Explorer
Go to Settings and then Site Contents
Click on Add an app
Search for Import Spreadsheet and open the app
Provide a name and a description to the SharePoint list
Browse the Spreadsheet and click Import
Select the Range Type and then select the Range
Once the import finishes the SharePoint list will open with all the records selected by the range

12 Responses to “Fix most common issues with SharePoint Import Spreadsheet functionality”

Richard
March 29, 2018

I was having a heck of a time uploading a spreadsheet. My work around was to use Access. Then it was quite simple, fast.
When I had access create the list in SP- it wasn’t the modern list.
When I created the list on SP and linked to the list using Access, after UL, all info was available in a modern format.
Anyway…just another work around
- João Ferreira
  March 29, 2018
  
  Hi Richard,
  
  Thanks for your information, alwaya good to know other ways to do SharePoint stuff
Bill
October 1, 2019

Why does anything you make not fucking work with anything else you make
- João Ferreira
  October 1, 2019
  
  Hi Bill, not sure if your comment is related with the issues you are facing with SharePoint or if you have faced any issues following my articles. Either way if something isn’t working for you please share your pain points here, I’m sure somebody else in the community will benefit from it. Looking forward to hear back from you. Have a nice day!
- SM
  January 31, 2020
  
  Hi,
  
  I have found that errors in import spreadsheet always point to the quality of data in your spreadsheet.
  
  Clean the data (this can take time), amke sure to check for date formats, number formats, remove all filters. you can even save to csv
  Then create a data table with the cleansed data and it should import ok.
  If that does not work then create the list in sharepoint manually and align the columns in the spreahsheet and the list in edit mode. You can now paste in 100 rows at a time. This will fail on any bad data and will give you pointers on why your import did not work.
  
  Regards
  SM
  - SM
    February 1, 2020
    
    Anothet thing to look out for is invalid characters in your spreadsheet
  - João Ferreira
    February 4, 2020
    
    Hi,
    
    Thanks for your comments and suggestions to make this feature work. Very appreciated.
funzel
February 12, 2020

Let me ask different.
There is a nice standard feature in spo importing data from spreadsheet.
It also does not work with the new Edge browser.
Does it mean I have to tell my company all clients should have still Ie11 implemented ?
- João Ferreira
  February 12, 2020
  
  Hi,
  
  At the moment the only way to do this is using IE, Microsoft released a new way of doing it a few months ago for modern browsers but they had issues with it and the feature is not available at the moment as you can see here.
  
  The new EDGE can be used in IE mode but I didn’t tested yet if this feature will work there.
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode
JesusSaves
April 8, 2020

I solved my problem ,Thank you
Rui
September 1, 2020

Hey João,

Thanks a lot for the help!!

This article did the trick and solved my issue on SharePoint Online, as I was able to add the site to Trusted sites on a pc that IE settings are not centrally managed.

If this issue occurs on SharePoint on-premise or if is not possible to add the site URL to the Trusted sites is there a way to do it, do you have a workaround for those scenarios?

Once again, thanks!!

Rui.
- João Ferreira
  September 23, 2020
  
  Hi Rui,
  
  Unfortunately I’m not aware of any workarround for SharePoint On-Prem specifically.