Edit Excel documents at the same time - this is how it works

As in other applications of the Microsoft Office Suite, you also have the option in Excel to work simultaneously on a document as a team. Learn about the requirements for collaborative document creation and how to properly use this handy feature.

Set up document for simultaneous editing

To use the shared document creation feature in Excel, you need an Office 365 subscription. Furthermore, you must have the latest version of Excel installed on your system.

1. Create a new workbook and save it in xlsx, XLSM, or XLSB format.
2. Upload the file to OneDrive or a SharePoint.
3. Click the workbook in OneDrive to open it in the browser and select the "Open in desktop app" option.
4. Click "Share" in the top right corner and set all recipients to be authorized to edit the file.
5. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to invite to edit the document.
6. Click "Send".

Show earlier versions - this is how it works

From time to time, it can happen that errors occur during editing by several people and, for example, a table or values get lost. Fortunately, Excel saves the version history. This means that you can view previous versions of the file and restore them if necessary.

1. Open the document and click on "File" and then on "Information".
2. Select the option "View and restore previous versions". Excel will then open the previous version and give you the option to restore it.