Fix COULDN'T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors in Excel

In this post, we will show you how to fix COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors in Excel. COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES Excel errors are specific errors you may encounter while working with Linked Data Types. These errors could appear as a message bar above the grid, a dialog, or an interactive tooltip to notify you about issues with updating linked data types.

When COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors occur, the cells linked to live data are not refreshed because Excel cannot establish a connection with the external data source. This can happen due to internet connectivity issues, service outages, permission restrictions, or the Automatic Refresh feature.

Automatic Refresh for Linked Data Types

Excel offers three refresh options for linked data types:

Automatic (every 5 minutes): updates data in the background
On file open: refreshes data when the workbook is opened; and
Manual: where data updates only when refreshed manually by the user

Some data types such as Stocks or Currencies require frequent updates to stay accurate, so Excel automatically refreshes them at default intervals set by the data provider. Known as Automatic Refresh, the feature allows linked data types to update their information periodically in the background, ensuring the data stays current without manual intervention.

The Automatic Refresh setting is enabled by default and is currently only available to those in the Insiders program.

To disable Automatic Refresh, right-click the cell with the data type and select Data Type > Refresh Settings. In Data Types Refresh Settings dialogue, expand the data type, and select Manually.

Fix COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors in Excel

Linked data types rely on an active internet connection to fetch and update data from external online sources, so errors can occur if the connection, source, or data type configuration is disrupted. Here are some common fixes to resolve COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors in Excel:

Ensure your device is connected to the internet.
Close and reopen Excel to re-establish connections to data providers.
Ensure you have the required permissions to access the data source.
Confirm whether the source data provider is operational.
Disable Automatic Refresh.

Note: You may temporarily disable Automatic Refresh to work around these errors and manually refresh data types later, once the issues causing the errors are resolved. However, turning off Automatic Refresh may result in outdated data. While manual refresh can also fail for the same reasons as automatic refresh, it allows you to work with existing data (which may not be the latest) without continuous error messages.

Fix Excel Data type refresh errors

Let us see in detail what each data type refresh error means and how to fix COULDN’T REFRESH DATA TYPES errors.

We couldn’t find this data type. You may not have access to it or the source data may have changed.

This error means Excel cannot locate or access the linked data type, possibly due to permission issues or changes in the source data. To fix it, check your Microsoft 365 subscription or Power BI access, and ensure the source data is still available and supported.

We couldn’t link all your data. Please reopen Excel and try again.

This error means Excel failed to link some or all of your data to the linked data types, possibly due to a temporary issue with Excel or the data provider. To fix it, exit Excel, and then open the file again.

You can’t access Organization data types. You may not meet the requirements or have the correct license.

This error means you cannot access Organization data types because you either lack the required permissions or do not have a Power BI Pro license linked to your Microsoft 365 account. To fix it, verify you have an account with a Microsoft 365 subscription and a Power BI Pro service plan, check permissions with your admin, and ensure you’re signed in with the correct account.

Something went wrong on our side and we couldn’t link all your data. We’re working to fix it.

This error indicates a temporary issue with Excel’s data provider service, preventing some or all linked data types from being refreshed or linked. To fix it, wait and try again later or check for service status updates from Microsoft.

Sorry our server is temporarily having problems. We’re working to fix it.

This error means Excel’s server is temporarily down or experiencing issues, preventing linked data types from refreshing or loading. To fix it, wait and try again later. You can also check Microsoft’s service status page for updates.

Sorry the service isn’t available right now. Try again in a few minutes.

This error means the data provider service is temporarily unavailable, preventing Excel from refreshing or accessing linked data types. To fix it, wait a few minutes and then try refreshing again or check Microsoft’s service status page for any ongoing outages.

This data type is not yet supported.

This error means the data type you’re trying to use is not supported, either because it’s new or unavailable in your version of Excel. To fix it, ensure you have the latest Excel updates and a compatible Microsoft 365 subscription, or check if the data type is supported in your region.

This feature has been disabled by your Power BI admin. Please contact your Power BI admin for assistance.

This error means your Power BI admin has disabled access to the linked data types feature in Excel, preventing you from using organization-specific data. To fix it, contact your Power BI admin to request access permissions or enable the feature for your account.

Unable to refresh data types.

The error ‘Unable to refresh data types’ indicates that Excel is unable to update linked data types due to issues like connection problems or service outages. The recommended solution is to try again later once the issue is resolved.

We couldn’t refresh all your data but we’ve refreshed what we could. Please try again later.

This error means that some data types were successfully refreshed, while others failed due to issues like connection problems or data source availability. To fix it, ensure your internet connection and data source settings are correct, and then try again later.

We couldn’t refresh the data because the source data or your permissions may have changed.

This error means that changes to the source data or permissions are preventing Excel from refreshing the linked data types. To fix it, ensure you have the required permissions to access the Power BI data linked to the Excel workbook. If you don’t have access, contact the dataset owner (whose details are given at the bottom of the data types card) to request permission to use the data.

We refreshed some of your data but we couldn’t refresh all of it because we changed or removed it on our side. For the data we can no longer refresh we’ve kept the most recent results.

This error means that some data types were updated, but others could not be refreshed because the provider changed or removed the source data. There is no way to resume refreshing the affected data, so you should assess how the change impacts your workbook’s processes, goals, and purpose and update or adjust the data as needed to maintain accuracy and functionality.

We were interrupted while refreshing linked data types. Please try to refresh again.

This error means the refresh process for linked data types was interrupted, possibly due to a network issue or temporary service disruption. To fix it, check your internet connection and try refreshing the data again.

You can’t access data types in this workbook. You may not meet the requirements or have the correct license.

This error means you don’t have the required license or permissions to access the linked data types in the workbook. To fix it, verify your Microsoft 365 subscription and sign in with the correct account.

You don’t have permission to edit certain data types. Some data will not be refreshed.

This error means you lack editing permissions for certain linked data types in the workbook, so some data cannot be refreshed. To fix it, check your permissions with the data owner or request access from your administrator to enable editing and refreshing.

You have exceeded the daily request limit. Try again in 24 hours.

This error means you have reached the daily limit for refreshing or accessing linked data types. To fix it, wait for some time and try again later. You may be able to retry sooner than 24 hours if the limit resets earlier.

You need to be online to refresh your linked data types. Check your connection and try again.

This error means Excel cannot refresh linked data types because your device is offline or has a network issue. To fix it, check your internet connection, ensure you’re online, and then try refreshing the data again.

You need to install the latest version of Excel in order to use data types.

This error means your version of Excel is outdated and does not support linked data types. To fix it, ask your IT admin to update Excel to the latest version or reinstall the application if needed.

You need to sign in with a subscription account to use these data types.

This error means you need to be signed in with a Microsoft 365 subscription account to access and use the linked data types. To fix it, sign in with the correct Microsoft 365 account with a valid subscription, or ensure your license is active.

You need to sign in with a subscription account to use these data types. Select Excel from the top menu and then select Sign In.

This error, ‘You need to sign in with a subscription account to use these data types‘, means you must sign in with a Microsoft 365 subscription account to access the linked data types. To fix it, select ‘Excel’ from the top menu, click ‘Sign In’, and log in with your subscription account to enable data type functionality.

I hope this helps.

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How do I fix Data type error in Excel?

You can resolve most data type refresh errors by signing in with an account that has the correct Microsoft 365 subscription to access data types. In addition, you need to ensure you’re connected to the internet and have the necessary permissions to access and edit the data types.

Why can’t I refresh data in Excel?

Refreshing will fail if your connection is unstable or disconnected, you’re using an outdated version of Excel, you’re not signed in with a valid Microsoft 365 subscription account, or you have reached the daily refresh request limit. Sometimes, refresh issues can be caused by service outages or disruptions from Microsoft or the data provider.