How to Share an Excel 365 Workbook with Multiple Users

Participants who attend our Excel courses are often eager to learn how to share an Excel workbook with colleagues and business partners.

While you could always allow multiple users to edit Excel files – it was difficult to share an Excel workbook with other users who were not connected to your network.

All of that has changed.

Microsoft introduced a feature called co-authoring and it’s the best way to share a spreadsheet!

What is Excel for Microsoft 365?

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Microsoft Excel has been around for decades. I started using a version of Excel back in the 90’s. (Ugh… I’m so old!!)

Excel for Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s industry leading spreadsheet application available with a subscription to Microsoft 365.

Excel for Microsoft 365 gets all of the new features right away and, as long as you’re a subscriber, you’ll always have the latest version of Excel.

What is Co-Authoring?

Excel for Microsoft 365 includes a powerful new feature called co-authoring.

Co-authoring lets multiple users work on the same Excel file at the same time. Each person can view and edit the shared workbook and updates are visible right away – within seconds.

To utilize co-authoring, all you need is an Excel for Microsoft 365 subscription. Save the workbook to OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or a SharePoint Online Library and you’re ready to start co-authoring!

Here is a video from Microsoft that provides an overview of co-authoring in Excel for Microsoft 365.

Which Version of Excel Supports Co-Authoring?

Several versions of Excel support co-authoring, including the following:

• Excel for Android
• Excel for iOS
• Excel Mobile
• Excel for Microsoft 365

Even if you don’t have a version of Excel that supports co-authoring, you can edit a shared workbook on office.com.

How to Share a Link to an Excel Workbook for Co-Authoring

The best way to share a spreadsheet is to simply send a link to your Excel workbook:

1. Click the Share button in the upper-right corner of Excel.
2. Enter a name or e-mail address and add a message (optional).
3. Click Send.

How to Open a Shared Workbook for Co-Authoring

If someone has shared an Excel workbook with you, you will receive a link via e-mail. When you click the link, a web browser will open and the shared workbook will open in Excel for the Web.

If you prefer to work with the file locally, click Edit in Desktop App. In order to use this option, the person opening the shared workbook must have a version of Excel that supports co-authoring.

Here is a screenshot of an Excel workbook that has been opened for co-authoring. Notice that the user, Bruce Willis, has currently selected cell A12.

How to Stop Sharing an Excel Workbook

To stop sharing an Excel workbook:

1. Click the Share button in the upper-right corner of Excel.
   The Send Link dialog box appears.
2. Click the 3 dots next to the Send Link heading and select Manage Access.
3. Click the X next to the URL in the Anyone with the link can edit box to remove anonymous access for anyone with a link.
4. Click the Can edit drop down menu below any additional user accounts listed and select Stop sharing.
5. Close the Manage Access dialog box.

Parting Thoughts

Now that you’ve read about co-authoring a shared Excel file, are you going to give it a try?

It’s easy to collaborate using shared workbook in Excel for Microsoft 365 and there are huge benefits to working with colleagues and business partners in real time.