Cannot Insert Object in Excel Error on Mac and Windows [Fixed]

Adding objects into Excel files is a great method to make your content more comprehensive and visual. However, many users reported that they sometimes cannot insert object in Excel when trying to embed objects (OLE) or add content like PDF or Microsoft documents to their worksheets. It is also common when you use ActiveX control in an Excel spreadsheet. This error may happen when the object you plan to insert is corrupted, or the file is damaged. This post from EaseUS will help you find valid ways for this error.

Fix 1. Fix Cannot Insert Object in Excel Caused by Document Corruption

There are chances that your Excel files get corrupted, and you cannot make any changes to them. If Excel cannot insert an object, it is caused by corrupt Excel files. This is when document repair software like EaseUS Fixo Document Repair shines. 

Besides the issue we are discussing, this tool can fix other Excel errors like Excel cannot paste the data, Excel cannot open the file, or runtime errors in Excel. Other than Excel files, this all-in-one document repair tool can help you with corrupted Office files from Microsoft Office 2019/ 2016/ 2013/ 2010/ 2007 effectively and easily. 

Some other features of this handy tool are as follows:

• Repair damaged XLS and XLSX files quickly and securely, and make sure your data is protected.
• It is also a great Word repair tool to resolve blank content in Word and Word files after recovery.
• Except for Office files, you can solve PDF errors like opening 0kb PDF files, and PDF won't open.

Here is how you can repair your corrupted Excel files with EaseUS Fixo Document Repair: 

✨Step 1.  Download, install, and launch EaseUS Fixo Document Repair

You can download this repair tool with the download button we gave you or other official ways. After the installation, you can double-click the Fixo icon to launch it. Click "File Repair" > "Add Files" to select and repair damaged Word, Excel, PDF, and other documents.

✨Step 2. Repair corrupted documents now

After adding the documents, you can click "Repair" to fix a document specifically or select "Repair All" to repair the whole files in the list altogether.

✨Step 3. Preview and save repaired documents

Now, the files are ready to be saved. You can also click the eye icon to preview the documents. After clicking "Save All", select "View Repaired" in the pop-up window to locate these repaired files.

If you find solutions in this post and get your error fixed, you can share this post to your social media or forum like Reddit to help more users:

Fix 2. Check the File Size

You can check the file size to see if its volume is too big to be handled smoothly to get rid of this error message:

Step 1. Right-click your Excel files.

Step 2. Choose "Properties" from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. The file size will be shown on the new window. You can try compressing it with some third-party tool if it is too big.

Fix 3. Check Excel's File Block Settings

You can check if the file is blocked in Excel to make clear that the file is intact. Here is what you can do to check restricted security settings:

Step 1. Go to the "File" menu and find "Options" > "Trsut Center".

Step 2. Open "Trust Center Settings" and click "File Block Settings" from the left panel.

Step 3. Find the file type you want to insert and uncheck the "Open" and "Save" box. Click "OK" to keep the settings.

Fix 4. Check Memory Usage

If your system has low memory, you cannot insert objects. So you better check your memory usage, close unnecessary programs running in the background, and try inserting files again. This way can also be applied when Excel hyperlinks are not working. The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 1. Hold Ctrl + Alt + Del simultaneously and click "Task Manager" when the screen turns black.

Step 2. Choose the "Processes" tab and search for unnecessary processes.

Step 3. Right-click on the unwanted process and select "End Task".

Now, you can restart your Excel to see if this issue exists.

Fix 5. Check and Change Excel ActiveX Settings

ActiveX controls are component programs that Microsoft developed to help applications perform specific functions. If your Excel files contain controls, macros, or other interactive buttons, you can check if you have enabled ActiveX, for it may be one of the main reasons for the object inserting error. Do as follows:

Step 1. Open Excel and go to "File". 

Step 2. Click "Options" and choose the "Trust Center" tab.

Step 3. In the Trust Center Settings, choose "ActiveX Settings".

Step 4. Ensure the  "Enable all controls without restrictions and without prompting" option is checked.

Fix 6. Repair Excel Workbook

The cannot insert object error can occur when the file you try to insert is corrupted, or your target file is damaged. You can use the built-in Open and Repair utility in MS Excel. This method can also be utilized when Excel keeps closing automatically. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Go to the "File" tab and click "Open".

Step 2. Click "Browse" to choose the corrupted file.

Step 3. Click on the arrow next to the Open button and click "Open and Repair". Choose "Repair".

When the repair process finishes, a message saying "Excel completed file level validation and repair. Some parts of this workbook may have been repaired or discarded." will appear. Just click "Close". You can also use this method above to fix Microsoft Office has stopped working.

Fix 7. Uninstall Microsoft Office Updates

If you have newly installed MS Office updates, you will likely get this error because there might be some problems with the installed updates. To solve this, you need to use the simplest method - uninstall the recently installed updates. Follow the steps here:

Step 1. Find the Control Panel and go to "Programs" > "Program and Features".

Step 2. Search for "View Installed Updates" and click on the Office updates.

Step 3. Right-click it and then choose "Uninstall". Now, wait for the process to end and restart your file.

FAQs on Cannot Insert Object in Excel

We have three frequently asked questions to help solve related problems you may encounter.

1. How do I enable insert object in Excel?

Go to the "Insert tab" and click "Object" in the Text group. Now, choose Browse and select the file you want to insert. You need to select the "Display as an icon" if you want to insert an icon.

2. Why is my insert not working in Excel?

Your Excel files or those you want to insert may be corrupted, damaged, or incomplete. You can try downloading the file and insert it again if it is available online. Or, you can use a file repair tool like EaseUS Fixo File Repair to help you with the process.

3. How do I fix an embedded object in Excel?

Right-click on the embedded object and select "Edit" or "Edit Object". Click "Change" or "Change Source" under the "Edit Object" dialog box. Find the file on your PC and click "OK".

The Bottom Line

In this post, we have looked at the seven possible fixes for cannot insert object in Excel that have been arranged from easy to difficult. You can try them one by one if your time is sufficient. But if you want to repair your corrupted documents effectively, using a document repair tool like EaseUS Fixo Document Repair is most recommended. Click and download it now.