How to turn off Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel

If you want to turn off Dynamic Data Exchange or DDE in Excel, here is everything you need to know about Dynamic Data Exchange and how to disable it. There are three ways to do that – using Excel Options, Local Group Policy Editor, and Registry Editor.

What is Dynamic Data Exchange Server in Excel?

Dynamic Data Exchange Server is a type of protocol that is being used to exchange data between two or multiple applications – one involving Excel itself. Let’s assume that you link an Excel file to a Word document. If the DDE Server protocol is turned on, the embedded file will be auto-updated in Word when you make changes in the Excel spreadsheet.

If you do not want to get that auto update functionality or data must remain as they were at the time of embedding, disabling the Dynamic Data Exchange Server would be the best course of action.

How to turn off Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel

To turn off Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Open the Excel app.
2. Click on the Options.
3. Go to Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > External Content.
4. Look for the Enable Dynamic Data Exchange Server Lookup setting.
5. Remove the tick from the checkbox.
6. Click the OK button.

To learn more about these steps, continue reading.

First, you need to open the Excel app on your computer and click on the Options menu. Then, switch to the Trust Center tab and click the Trust Center Settings button.

After that, click on the External Content tab and find the Enable Dynamic Data Exchange Server Lookup option.

Remove the tick from the corresponding checkbox and click the OK button.

How to turn off Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel using Group Policy

To turn off Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel using Group Policy, follow these steps:

1. Press Win+R > type msc and click the OK button.
2. Navigate to Trust Center > External Content in User Configuration.
3. Double-click on the Don’t allow Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) server lookup in Excel setting.
4. Choose the Enabled option.
5. Click the OK button.

Let’s delve into these steps in detail.

Note: In order to use this method, you must install the Administrative Templates for Office.

To get started, press the Win+R buttons together to open the Run prompt. Then, type gpedit.msc and click the OK button to open the Local Group Policy Editor. Next, navigate to this path:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Excel Options > Security > Trust Center > External Content

Here, you can see a setting named Don’t allow Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) server lookup in Excel. You need to double-click on this setting and choose the Enabled option.

Finally, click the OK button to save the change.

How to disable Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel using Registry

To disable Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel using Registry, follow these steps:

1. Search for regedit in the Taskbar search box.
2. Click on the individual search result and click the Yes button.
3. Navigate to office\16.0\excel\security in HKCU.
4. Right-click on security > New > Key and name it as external content.
5. Right-click on external content > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Set the name as disableddeserverlookup.
7. Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1.
8. Click the OK button.
9. Restart your computer.

Let’s find out more about these steps.

First, search for regedit in the Taskbar search box, click on the individual search result, and click the Yes button to open the Registry Editor.

Once it is opened, you need to go to this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security

However, if you cannot find this path, you need to create it manually. In that case, navigate to this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft

Then, create the sub-keys accordingly.

If you can find the first path, right-click on security > New > Key and call it external content.

Then, right-click on external content > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as disableddeserverlookup.

Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1, and click the OK button.

Finally, close all windows and restart your computer.

Read: Microsoft Excel cannot access the file

How do I disable the DDE server?

To disable DDE server lookup in Excel, open the Excel Options wizard first. Then, go to Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > External Content. Find the Enable Dynamic Data Exchange Server lookup option and remove the tick from the checkbox. Finally, click the OK button to save the change.

How do I enable Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel?

To enable Dynamic Data Exchange in Excel, open the Local Group Policy Editor first. Then, go to this path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Excel Options > Security > Trust Center > External Content. Double-click on the Don’t allow Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) server lookup in Excel setting and choose the Not Configured option. Click the OK button to save the change.

Read: Delete Sheet not working in Excel.