Load the Solver Add-in

The Solver Add-in is a Microsoft Office Excel add-in program that is available when you install Microsoft Office or Excel.

To use the Solver Add-in, however, you first need to load it in Excel.

Note: December 8, 2016: When you try to finalize a Solver solution, Excel 2016 might return the error "File not found Solver32.dll." This issue is now fixed in the latest Excel build. To install the update, click File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.

1. In Excel 2010 and later goto File > Options

   Note: For Excel 2007 click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Excel Options.

2. Click Add-Ins, and then in the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins.

3. Click Go.

4. In the Add-Ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK.

   1. Tip    If the Solver Add-in is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse to locate the add-in.

   2. If you get prompted that the Solver Add-in is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it.

5. After you load the Solver Add-in, the Solver command is available in the Analysis group on the Data tab.

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See Also

Define and solve a problem by using Solver

Overview of formulas in Excel

How to avoid broken formulas

Use error checking to detect errors in formulas

Keyboard shortcuts in Excel 2016 for Windows

Keyboard shortcuts in Excel 2016 for Mac

Excel functions (alphabetical)

Excel functions (by category)