This means that you can only enter this viewing mode if you’re working with a file specifically created for this mode. How to save a document in Compatibility ModeĬompatibility Mode applies to documents saved in or saved for older versions of Excel.

Since Excel has been around for so long, a lot has changed in its fundamentals which are addressed by Compatibility Mode. This is common when software updates change the core of an application over time. Without Compatibility Mode, some documents may display incorrectly or not open at all. If you're using an older version, Compatibility Mode ensures that you can view workbooks made in newer releases as well. When creating a workbook in Compatibility Mode, it's going to be viewable in old Excel versions. To deal with the issue, Microsoft added Compatibility Mode to Excel. However, most users aren’t aware of this. It depends on the contents of a document, which is a tricky thing to take into consideration.įor example, a feature implemented in Excel 2019 most likely won't display properly in Excel 2013. This inevitably means that documents made in newer versions may not be compatible with old releases.

What is Excel’s Compatibility Mode?Ĭompatibility Mode is a viewing mode in Excel that helps you create documents viewable by everyone.Įxcel is available in many versions since it has been around for over a decade. This article goes in-depth about everything you need to know related to the Compatibility Mode view. It can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you work with people that use different versions of Excel. Many Excel users aren’t aware of the existence of Compatibility Mode and how to use it properly.

Microsoft word 2016 compatibility mode