How to fix Excel not syncing with Forms

Hi @Tyler Alexander, 

Thank you for the detailed checks you’ve already completed. Since syncing works in Incognito but fails in a normal browser session, the most productive next steps are to isolate whether this is caused by the browser profile’s stored state, and to have a SharePoint admin verify library controls that are known to block Forms to Excel syncing even when the workbook opens normally. 

1) Test with a brand new browser profile 

In Microsoft Edge:

Select the profile icon, choose Add profile, and create it without importing data. In that new profile, sign in only with the same work or school account used for Forms and SharePoint, then open the workbook in Excel for the web and retry the sync. 

In Google Chrome:

Select the profile icon, choose Add, create a separate profile (do not sync it with your existing one), sign in with the same work or school account, open the workbook in Excel for the web, and retry the sync. 

If syncing fails the same way in the new profile, move to the SharePoint library checks below. 

2) Have a SharePoint admin verify library settings that can block live updates 

Some SharePoint library controls can prevent services like Forms from writing updates into the file even though the workbook still opens. 

• Require Check Out 

In the document library, go to Library settings, then Versioning settings, and confirm whether Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited is enabled. If it is, also confirm the workbook is not currently checked out by anyone. 

• Content approval or required metadata 

In Library settings, review Versioning settings for Content Approval, then check Columns for any required fields. Required metadata and approval flows can block automated updates that do not complete those steps. 

• IRM or restricted permissions 

In Library settings, check Information Rights Management if it appears. Also verify the workbook’s access and permissions are not restricted in a way that would prevent service driven edits. 

3. Contact Microsoft Support for deeper investigation if the issue persists 

If the issue continues after the new profile test and the SharePoint library checks above, it likely requires deeper backend investigation. In that situation, the best next step is for your IT administrator to submit a support request through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center so Microsoft Support can review service side telemetry for the sync operation and confirm whether there is a service issue affecting Excel for the web and Forms syncing. 

Once the ticket is created, a technical support engineer will be able to initiate a secure remote session, review backend configurations, run diagnostics, and escalate the case to specialized engineering teams if necessary. These teams are equipped to perform advanced troubleshooting and provide targeted solutions.  

For instructions on submitting a support request, please refer to: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn.  

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow the steps above and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can continue working together to resolve the issue.    

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out so I can continue to support you. If you found the response useful, please consider marking it as accepted, as this may help other community members who are looking for similar guidance.    

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Based on the available information, this behavior matches a browser/session issue affecting access to the SharePoint‑stored workbook rather than a Forms or Excel Desktop problem.

Because syncing works in Incognito mode, the key additional step is to fully isolate the browser profile and cached identity state, not just clear cache/cookies in the same profile:

1. Use a private browsing session to validate access
   • Open the browser’s privacy mode (InPrivate in Edge, Incognito in Chrome) and sign in to Microsoft 365.
   • Open the form → Responses → open in Excel and confirm that sync works.
   • This aligns with the documented guidance for resolving access issues such as 403 errors by testing in privacy mode first.
2. If private mode works, reset the normal profile state
   • Sign out of all Microsoft 365 accounts in the browser.
   • Close all browser windows.
   • Start the browser and either:
     • Create a new clean profile and sign in only with the account that owns the form and workbook, or
     • Remove the problematic profile and re‑create it, then sign in again.
   • This removes corrupted or conflicting profile data that is not cleared by a simple cache/cookie clear.
3. Confirm the workbook itself is healthy and supported
   • Open the workbook in the desktop version of Excel and verify it is not corrupt. If any corruption is detected, repair it and save.
   • If the workbook shows errors in the browser such as unsupported BI features or external data connections, save a simplified copy without those features and use that copy for Forms sync. Unsupported BI features can prevent normal browser interaction with a workbook.
4. Check for conditions that block Forms–Excel sync
   • Ensure the workbook has not been manually edited in ways that Forms does not support (for example, adding custom tables or formulas into the response table). Manual structural changes can cause sync errors. If such changes exist, remove the manually added table or formulas from the response sheet and test again.
   • If the workbook is IRM‑protected or subject to a policy that blocks opening in Excel for the web, sync will fail. In that case, sync responses to a new workbook that is not IRM‑protected and ensure the organization’s policy allows opening that file in Excel for the web.
5. Use “Sync all responses to a new workbook” as a non‑destructive test
   • On the form’s Responses tab, select the ellipsis (…) and choose Sync all responses to a new workbook.
   • This creates a fresh workbook with all responses and resets the response table structure, which can resolve ordering and structural issues without changing the form itself.
   • Because this operation creates a new file, it avoids data loss in the original workbook and is safe to test.
6. Recommended settings to prevent recurrence
   • Keep the response workbook free of manual structural edits (no extra tables in the response sheet, no formulas inside the response table) so Forms can continue to recognize and sync data.
   • Avoid applying IRM or other restrictive policies to the response workbook that would block opening it in Excel for the web.
   • When browser issues appear, first test in InPrivate/Incognito; if that works, reset or recreate the normal browser profile rather than repeatedly clearing cache.
   • For workbooks with advanced BI features, consider separating the raw response workbook (kept simple for Forms sync) from any BI/analysis workbook that connects to it.

These steps allow isolating browser‑specific causes (profile/identity state, unsupported workbook features in the browser, IRM or policy restrictions, and manual workbook edits) and provide a way to restore reliable syncing without recreating the form or losing existing response data.

References:

• How to ensure your form and workbook are in sync
• "403 Forbidden" error on OneDrive or SharePoint
• Forms response columns are out of order
• Using a BI workbook in a browser window