Excel Power Query refresh fails with FileNotFoundException for Microsoft.Identity.Client 4.83.3.0 (Beta Channel 2611, build 16.0.20606.20000)

Product / build

• Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 MSO, Version 2611 (Build 16.0.20606.20000), 64-bit
• Update channel: Beta Channel (set via policy updatebranch = BetaChannel)
• Windows 11, French UI

Problem

Refreshing any Power Query query that uses Web.Contents against SharePoint Online

(Excel.Workbook(Web.Contents("https://<tenant>.sharepoint.com/..."))) fails during

OAuth token refresh with:

"Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Identity.Client, Version=4.83.3.0,

Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0a613f4dd989e8ae' or one of its dependencies.

The system cannot find the file specified."

Stack: MsalProvider.AcquireSilently -> OAuthRegistrationService.Refresh ->

CredentialManager.RefreshCredential. The query itself is fine; the failure happens

before the file is read. "Enable fast data load" is already unchecked.

Evidence (Fusion log, caller: Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI, host: EXCEL.EXE)

• The binder requests Microsoft.Identity.Client 4.83.3.0 (exact).
• It probes Office16\ first (not found), then Office16\ADDINS\Microsoft Power Query for Excel Integrated\bin.
• The file found there is version 4.90.0.0, rejected with: "Assembly name comparison resulted in the mismatch: Minor Version" (hr = 0x80131040), then the lookup ends with hr = 0x80070002.
• Installed files are consistent with each other (all written at the same time): Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.dll 2.160.8201.2, Microsoft.Mashup.Client.Excel.dll 2.160.8201.2, Microsoft.Identity.Client.dll 4.90.0.0.
• A 4.83.3.0 copy exists only in bin\ContainerPrivate, which Excel's host process does not probe.

Conclusion

This build's Power Query client code references MSAL 4.83.3.0, but the package

ships 4.90.0.0 with no binding redirect. This looks like a packaging/versioning

defect in build 20606.20000.

Already tried (no effect)

• Online Repair of Microsoft 365 Apps
• Update Now
• Local workaround attempts: a binding redirect in EXCEL.EXE.config, and copying the 4.83.3.0 DLL into Office16\ (same error)

Workaround

Refreshing the same query in Power BI Desktop works (it ships its own MSAL).

Request

Please confirm the defect and fix the package in the next Beta build.