How to Fix "Cannot Download the Information You Requested" Error in Excel 2016
Have you ever encountered a frustrating error message when you try to open a hyperlink in Excel 2016? It says "Cannot download the information you requested" and prevents you from accessing the linked file or website. This error can occur for various reasons, such as invalid or broken links, corrupted workbooks, or incompatible settings. In this article, we will explain what causes this error and how to solve it with four easy methods. We will also share some tips on how to prevent this error from happening again in the future.
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What Causes This Error?
Possible reasons for this error
The "Cannot download the information you requested" error usually happens when Excel cannot connect to the source of the hyperlink. This can be due to several factors, such as:
The link is invalid or broken. This means that the URL of the link does not exist or has been changed or moved. For example, if you try to open a link to a webpage that has been deleted or renamed, you will get this error.
The workbook is corrupted. This means that the file that contains the hyperlink has been damaged or modified by a virus, a power outage, or a disk error. For example, if you try to open a link from a workbook that has been partially overwritten by another file, you will get this error.
The calculation option is set to automatic. This means that Excel recalculates all formulas and functions every time you make a change in the workbook. This can cause Excel to try to update the hyperlink before opening it, which can result in this error.
The registry key is missing or incorrect. This means that Excel does not know which browser to use to open the hyperlink. For example, if you have changed your default browser recently, but Excel still tries to use the old one, you will get this error.
How to check if the link is valid
Before trying any of the solutions below, you should first check if the link is valid or not. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Copy the URL of the hyperlink from Excel. You can do this by right-clicking on the cell that contains the hyperlink and choosing Edit Hyperlink. Then, copy the address from the Text to display box.
Paste the URL into your browser's address bar and press Enter. If the webpage opens normally, then the link is valid. If you get an error message or a blank page, then the link is invalid or broken.
If the link is invalid or broken, you should either update it with a new URL or delete it from your workbook. You can do this by right-clicking on the cell that contains the hyperlink and choosing Edit Hyperlink again. Then, either change the address in the Text to display box or click on Remove Link.
How to Solve This Error?
Method 1: Change the calculation option to manual
One of the possible solutions to this error is to change the calculation option from automatic to manual. This will prevent Excel from trying to update the hyperlink before opening it, which can cause the error. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Click on the File tab and choose Options.
Click on Formulas in the left pane.
Under Calculation options, select Manual and click OK.
Try to open the hyperlink again and see if the error is gone.
Note that changing the calculation option to manual means that you will have to manually recalculate your workbook whenever you make a change. You can do this by pressing F9 or clicking on the Calculate Now button on the Formulas tab.
Method 2: Use external references to link to the corrupted workbook
If the workbook that contains the hyperlink is corrupted, you can try to use external references to link to it instead of opening it directly. External references are formulas that refer to cells or ranges in another workbook. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Create a new workbook and save it in the same folder as the corrupted workbook.
In the new workbook, type an equal sign (=) in a cell where you want to display the value from the corrupted workbook.
Click on the Browse button next to the File name box and locate the corrupted workbook.
Select the sheet and cell that contains the value you want to display and click OK.
Press Enter to complete the formula. You should see the value from the corrupted workbook in the new workbook.
Repeat steps 2 to 5 for any other values you want to display from the corrupted workbook.
Save and close the new workbook.
Try to open the hyperlink from the new workbook and see if the error is gone.
Method 3: Add a registry key to force Excel to use the default browser
Another possible solution to this error is to add a registry key that will force Excel to use your default browser instead of Internet Explorer when opening hyperlinks. This can help if Excel is trying to use an outdated or incompatible browser that causes the error. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Type regedit and click OK. This will open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command
Right-click on (Default) and choose Modify.
In the Value data box, type "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -- "%1" (including the quotation marks) and click OK. This will set Chrome as your default browser for Excel. If you use a different browser, replace Chrome with your browser name and path.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Try to open the hyperlink again and see if the error is gone.
Method 4: Repair or reinstall Office 2016
The last resort solution to this error is to repair or reinstall Office 2016. This can help if there are any missing or corrupted files or settings that cause Excel to malfunction. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Click on the Start button and choose Settings.
Click on Apps and then Apps & features.
Find Microsoft Office 2016 in the list of installed apps and click on it.
Click on Modify and then choose Repair. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair process.
If repairing does not work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling Office 2016. To do this, click on Uninstall instead of Modify and follow the instructions on the screen to remove Office 2016 from your computer. Then, download and install Office 2016 again from your Microsoft account or from a disc or USB drive.
Try to open the hyperlink again and see if the error is gone.
How to Prevent This Error in the Future?
Tips for creating and managing hyperlinks in Excel
To avoid getting this error again in the future, you should follow some best practices when creating and managing hyperlinks in Excel. Here are some tips:
Use descriptive text for your hyperlinks instead of plain URLs. This will make your workbook more readable and easier to understand. For example, use "Visit our website" instead of " Check your hyperlinks regularly and update or remove any invalid or broken links. You can use the Find and Replace feature to search for and replace hyperlinks in your workbook. You can also use the Edit Links to Files feature to view and manage all the external links in your workbook.
Use relative paths instead of absolute paths when linking to files or folders on your computer or network. This will ensure that your hyperlinks will work even if you move or rename the files or folders. For example, use "..\Documents\Report.xlsx" instead of "C:\Users\John\Documents\Report.xlsx".
Use trusted sources and secure websites when linking to online content. This will protect your computer and data from viruses, malware, or phishing attacks. For example, use "https" instead of "http" and look for a padlock icon or a green address bar in your browser.
Tips for avoiding and fixing corrupted workbooks in Excel
Another way to prevent this error from happening again is to avoid and fix corrupted workbooks in Excel. Corrupted workbooks can cause various problems, such as errors, crashes, or data loss. Here are some tips:
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Save your workbooks frequently and make backup copies of them. This will help you recover your data in case of a corruption. You can also use the AutoRecover feature to automatically save your workbooks at regular intervals.
Close your workbooks properly and avoid interrupting the saving process. This will prevent any incomplete or corrupted data from being written to the file. You should also avoid opening or saving your workbooks from removable devices, such as USB drives or CDs, as they can be easily damaged or disconnected.
Scan your computer and workbooks for viruses and malware. This will help you detect and remove any malicious programs that can damage or modify your files. You can use an antivirus software or the Microsoft Safety Scanner to perform a scan.
Open and repair your corrupted workbooks using Excel's built-in feature. This will help you fix any errors or issues in the file. You can do this by clicking on File > Open > Browse and locating the corrupted workbook. Then, click on the arrow next to the Open button and choose Open and Repair.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what causes the "Cannot download the information you requested" error in Excel 2016 and how to solve it with four easy methods. We have also shared some tips on how to prevent this error from happening again in the future. We hope that this article has helped you fix this error and enjoy using Excel without any hassle.
FAQs
Q1: What is the difference between automatic and manual calculation in Excel?
A1: Automatic calculation means that Excel recalculates all formulas and functions every time you make a change in the workbook. Manual calculation means that Excel does not recalculate anything until you manually trigger it by pressing F9 or clicking on Calculate Now. Automatic calculation is faster and more convenient, but it can also cause errors or performance issues if you have a large or complex workbook.
Q2: What is an external reference in Excel?
A2: An external reference is a formula that refers to a cell or range in another workbook. For example, =SUM([Budget.xlsx]Sheet1!A1:A10) is an external reference that adds up the values in cells A1 to A10 in Sheet1 of Budget.xlsx. External references allow you to link data from different sources and update them automatically.
Q3: How do I find and delete broken links in Excel?
A3: Broken links are links that point to non-existing or inaccessible files or websites. They can cause errors or slow down your workbook. To find and delete broken links in Excel, you can use the Edit Links to Files feature by clicking on Data > Queries & Connections > Edit Links. This will show you a list of all the external links in your workbook and their status. You can then select the broken links and click on Break Link to delete them.
Q4: How do I open and repair a corrupted workbook in Excel?
A4: A corrupted workbook is a file that has been damaged or modified by a virus, a power outage, or a disk error. It can cause errors, crashes, or data loss. To open and repair a corrupted workbook in Excel, you can use the Open and Repair feature by clicking on File > Open > Browse and locating the corrupted workbook. Then, click on the arrow next to the Open button and choose Open and Repair. You can then choose between Repair (which tries to recover as much data as possible) or Extract Data (which extracts values and formulas from the workbook).
Q5: How do I update or remove hyperlinks in Excel?
A5: To update or remove hyperlinks in Excel, you can right-click on the cell that contains the hyperlink and choose Edit Hyperlink. This will open a dialog box where you can change the address, text, or format of the hyperlink. You can also click on Remove Link to delete the hyperlink from the cell. 44f88ac181
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