The Solver add-in is built into Excel but turned off by default
Solver is a tool that comes with Excel — both the desktop version and Microsoft 365 — but you have to turn it on before you can use it. It sits in the Tools menu once activated. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on Windows and Mac, though the exact menu path differs slightly between the two.
Solver helps you find the best answer to a problem by testing different values in your spreadsheet. For example, if you have a budget spreadsheet and want to know what price you need to charge to hit a profit target, Solver can work backward from your target and tell you the price. You set up the problem, tell Solver which cell to change and what result you want, and it does the math.
Key Takeaways
- Solver comes with Excel but is off by default; you turn it on through the Add-ins menu, not by downloading anything new.
- On Windows, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Add-ins, then check the box next to Solver.
- On Mac, go to Tools > Excel Add-ins, find Solver in the list, and click OK.
- Once activated, Solver appears in the Data tab on Windows or the Tools menu on Mac, and stays on until you turn it off.
Turning on Solver in Windows Excel
Open Excel and go to File in the top left corner. Click Options at the bottom of the menu. A window will open with a list of categories on the left side.
Click Trust Center in that list. On the right side, you will see a button labeled Trust Center Settings. Click it. A new window opens with more categories on the left. Click Trusted Add-ins.
In the main area, you will see a list of add-ins. Find Solver Add-in in the list and check the box next to it. Click OK at the bottom. You can now close the Options window by clicking OK again.
Solver is now on. You will find it in the Data tab at the top of your spreadsheet, in the right section labeled Analyze. It will say Solver with a button underneath.
Turning on Solver in Mac Excel
Open Excel on your Mac. Click Tools in the menu bar at the top of the screen. A dropdown menu appears. Click Excel Add-ins near the bottom of that menu.
A window opens showing a list of available add-ins. Scroll down and find Solver. Click on it to select it, then click the OK button at the bottom right of the window.
Solver is now on. You will find it in the Tools menu at the top of your screen. Click Tools and look for Solver in the dropdown menu.
What to do if Solver does not appear after you turn it on
If you followed the steps above but Solver still does not show up, close Excel completely and open it again. Sometimes Excel needs to restart to load the add-in.
If Solver still does not appear after restarting, check that you actually clicked the checkbox or button to turn it on — it is straightforward to open the menu and forget to confirm the selection. Go back through the steps above and make sure the box is checked (Windows) or that you clicked OK (Mac).
On Windows, if the Solver Add-in does not appear in the Trusted Add-ins list at all, your version of Excel may not include it. This is rare, but it can happen with very old versions or stripped-down installations. Check that you are running Excel 2007 or later.
How to turn Solver off if you no longer need it
If you want to remove Solver from your menu, follow the same steps you used to turn it on, but uncheck the box (Windows) or do not click OK (Mac). Turning it off does not delete anything — it just hides the tool from your menu. You can turn it back on the same way anytime.
Turning off add-ins you do not use can make Excel slightly faster and less cluttered, especially if you have many add-ins installed. But Solver is small and does not run in the background, so leaving it on has no real downside.
Understanding what Solver does once it is on
Once Solver is active, you use it by setting up a spreadsheet with a formula you want to solve for. For example, you might have a cell that calculates profit based on price and quantity. You tell Solver which cell holds the result you care about (the profit cell), what value you want it to reach (your target profit), and which cell it can change to get there (the price).
Solver then tests different values in the price cell until it finds one that makes the profit cell equal your target. It can also handle more complex problems where multiple cells can change, or where you have constraints — for example, "price must be at least $10" or "quantity cannot exceed 1000 units."
The tool is built into Excel because it solves real business problems: finding the lowest cost to ship goods, the best mix of products to make, or the price point that maximizes revenue. You do not need to understand the math behind it — Solver does that work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy Solver separately or read it?
No. Solver comes with Excel and Microsoft 365. You only need to turn it on through the menu. There is nothing to buy or read.
Will turning on Solver slow down my computer?
No. Solver only runs when you open it and ask it to solve a problem. It does not run in the background or use resources when you are not using it.
Can I use Solver in Excel Online or Excel on the web?
Solver is not available in the web version of Excel. You need the desktop version — either Excel as a standalone program or Excel as part of Microsoft 365 installed on your computer.
What if I have both Excel and Google Sheets — does Solver work in Sheets?
Google Sheets does not have a built-in Solver tool. If you need Solver's features in Sheets, you would have to use a third-party add-on, which works differently and may have limitations. Solver in Excel is the standard version.
Can I undo a Solver operation if I do not like the result?
Yes. When Solver finishes, it shows you the result and asks whether you want to keep it or cancel. If you click Cancel, your spreadsheet goes back to the way it was. If you accept the result but change your mind later, you can use Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo.