Why Excel Says It Cannot Locate Solver File? How to Fix It

Part 1. What is the Excel Solver Add-In? Why Can't Find the Solver in Excel?

1Understanding Excel Solver Add-In

Excel Solver is a powerful tool designed for optimization tasks such as finding the best value for a target cell, subject to certain constraints. It is often used in scenarios like linear programming, financial modeling, and decision analysis. Solver is an add-in, meaning it isn’t part of Excel by default and needs to be enabled to function.

2Common Reasons Why Can't I Find the Solve in Excel

Several factors can cause Excel to display "cannot locate solver file" or hide the Solver option entirely:

• Add-in not enabled: Solver is installed but deactivated by default.
• Disabled or corrupted add-in: It may appear in "Disabled Items" due to crashes or conflicts.
• Missing or relocated SOLVER.XLAM file: The core file (usually in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Library\SOLVER) is absent or moved.
• Office installation issues: Partial installs, updates, or corruption affect add-ins.
• Security restrictions: Trust Center settings block macros or ActiveX controls needed by Solver.
• Version-specific problems: More common in Excel 365, Windows 10/11, or after updates.

People Also Read:

How to Fix Excel File Corrupted or Damaged in 9 Ways

Part 2. What To Do When Excel Says It Cannot Locate Solver File: 5 Quick Fixes

Quick Fix 1: Re-Enable the Solver Add-in (Most Common Solution) -- add solver in excel

The simplest and most effective solution for solver in excel not working is to re-enable the add-in through Excel's options. This process refreshes the connection between Excel and the Solver file.

Quick Fix 2: Manually Browse to the SOLVER.XLAM File

If Solver isn't listed, point Excel directly to the file.

• Follow steps 1-3 from Fix 1 to open the Add-ins dialog.

• Click “Browse” and navigate to the SOLVER folder:

  a) Windows (Excel 365/2019/2016): C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Library\SOLVER

  b) Windows (older versions): C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\Library\SOLVER

  c) Mac: /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office365/User Content/Add-ins/

• Select SOLVER.XLAM and click OK.

  

• Check the Solver box and confirm.

This resolves path issues causing "Excel says it cannot locate solver file."

Quick Fix 3: Repair Microsoft Office Installation

When adding solver to excel fails repeatedly, the underlying Office installation may be corrupted. Microsoft's built-in repair tool can restore damaged files and registry entries.

• Close Excel. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Control Panel > Programs and Features).

• Find Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365, select it, and click “Modify” or “Change”.

  

• Choose “Quick Repair” (or Online Repair for thorough fix) and follow prompts.

  

• Restart your PC and re-enable Solver.

Quick Fix 4: Check Trust Center and Security Settings

When adding solver to excel fails repeatedly, the underlying Office installation may be corrupted. Microsoft's built-in repair tool can restore damaged files and registry entries.

• Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.

  

• Select “Macro Settings” and choose Prompt me before enabling all controls (or less restrictive).

• In Macro Settings, enable macros if needed.

• Click OK twice and restart Excel.

  

Quick Fix 5: Manually Download and Add Solver Files

As a last resort when all other methods fail, manually downloading a fresh copy of the Solver files can resolve persistent "excel says it cannot locate solver file 365" problems.

As a last resort (rarely needed, as Solver is bundled):

• Obtain SOLVER.XLAM from a working Excel installation or trusted source.

• Place it in the default add-ins folder.

• Use the Browse method in Fix 2 to load it.

Caution:

Only download from official Microsoft sources to avoid risks.

⚡ Part 3. Bonus Tip: How to Fix Excel File Corruption Causing Solver File Not Working

Sometimes, the "Excel says it cannot locate solver file" error stems from deeper issues like corrupted Excel files or workbooks. File corruption can prevent add-ins like Solver from loading properly, leading to persistent solver not working in Excel problems even after re-enabling it.

A reliable solution is using 4DDiG File Repair, a professional tool that can repair corrupted Excel files (and other document types) in batch. It effectively addresses various Excel errors, including corruption from crashes, viruses, or improper saves. Plus, its Advanced Repair mode handles heavily damaged files with a high success rate.

Key Features of 4DDiG File Repair:

• Repairs multiple corrupted .xlsx/.xls files simultaneously.
• Fixes unopenable files, blank screens, garbled data, errors, and other issues that can prevent Solver from loading.
• High-success-rate recovery for severely damaged files, preserving formulas, charts, and tables.
• Preview results before saving; no overwriting of original files. Steps to Repair Problematic Excel Files Using 4DDiG:

• Install and open 4DDiG File Repair. Select “File Repair” > “Add Files” to to upload your corrupted Excel files.

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• Hit “Repair” or “Repair All” (or Advanced Repair for severe damage) and wait for the process.

  

• Preview the repaired files, then save them to a new location.

  

Part 4. Prevention Tips to Avoid Excel Solver Not Working

To minimize future issues with Solver in Excel not working or missing files:

• Regularly update Microsoft Office/365 to ensure add-ins like Solver remain compatible.
• Save workbooks frequently and use AutoRecover to prevent corruption.
• Avoid abrupt shutdowns or force-closing Excel during complex operations.
• Scan for malware regularly, as it can corrupt Office files.
• Back up important Excel files to cloud storage or external drives.
• Adjust Trust Center settings proactively to allow necessary macros and add-ins.
• If using VBA with Solver, test macros in a safe environment first.

People Also Ask about Excel Solver Files

Solver is available on Mac but requires manual activation similar to Windows. Go to Tools > Excel Add-ins, check Solver, and restart. If missing, it may not be installed. Then reinstall Office or check for Mac-specific updates. Some advanced features differ from Windows.

Common errors like "cannot locate solver file" are fixed by re-enabling the add-in, repairing Office, or adjusting Trust Center settings. For runtime errors, ensure constraints are feasible and variables are correctly set.

Navigate to File > Options > Add-ins > Manage Excel Add-ins > Go, then check Solver Add-in. On Mac: Tools > Excel Add-ins.

This isn't a file error. It's an optimization issue. Relax constraints, provide better initial values, adjust precision/tolerance in Solver options, or use a different engine (e.g., Evolutionary for non-linear problems).

Conclusion

Facing the frustrating "Excel says it cannot locate solver file" error or Solver not working in Excel? Start with re-enabling the add-in and progress through the 5 quick fixes. For persistent issues due to file corruption, 4DDiG File Repair offers reliable batch and advanced recovery to restore your workbooks and get Solver running smoothly again.