Need to open .xls files with Excel 2016/Win10, default is now Adobe

Anonymous
2015-10-06T15:57:22+00:00
Please check out Office<br> documents don't open in the correct application <br>for the latest information on this topic.

Just installed Win10 and upgraded to Excel 2016. Find I can't open .xls files as default app to open them is now ...Adobe. Excel is not an available option in setting default apps to open .xls files. I got sent to the Store and the app I selected can be set as the default, but when I saved file as .xlsx, Excel balks about opening it. Somehow this doesn't make sense that Excel is not the default for .xls files. Any help here?

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Anonymous
2015-10-06T20:05:58+00:00

Hi Darrell - Windows 10 puts you in control of which of your apps act as the default for file types, so we don't automatically take over the association (I guess you could imagine how much we'd upset a confirmed OpenOffice user if we did :-))

Easiest way to fix this:

Press the Windows key/select the Windows Icon in the start bar

Type "Default" - and search should then suggest: "Default Programs", select it

Wait for the applet to start and then select the "Set your default programs" choice

Find Excel 2016 in the list, select it, and then select "->Set this program as default"

Then sit back and enjoy Excel opening your workbook files!

Apologies for the somewhat long set of instructions, I feel we should award some kind of "dedication above and beyond the expected calls of duty" :-)

Hope this helps...pc

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Anonymous
2017-04-11T20:45:08+00:00

Hello! We've created a "Fix It" tool that may further assist if you're continuing to experiencing problems with file associations. You can learn more and access the tool here: Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it

Freya

Office Newsroom

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-02-23T06:09:31+00:00

    I'm still having this problem. The only default programs I see are Microsoft Office Click-To-Run IntegratedOfficeExe (SxS) or Office XMS Handler.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-02-21T15:42:24+00:00

    Help, This is urgent!

    None of the fixes work.  When I try to set a default for .xls I am told that "There is no installed app for this type of file."

    Last month I could download the files. Open Excel and open the downloaded file from inside Excel.  Today, Windows 10 will not even let me download the .xls files.  I have a meeting this afternoon and I NEED to have these files in advance.

    I subscribe to office 365 through Microsoft.  I thought with that I automatically was downloaded the latest upgrades for my office products.  Educate me on this.

    Dixie

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-02-21T14:31:03+00:00

    Thanks Chris & Darrell - we're working on understanding how this happens with the Windows team. In the meantime I could work around this by using the second option in the default programs list: "Associate a file type or protocol with a program"

    > Navigate down to the ".xls" line & select the "Change Program" button

    > In the pop up dialog: if you see "Excel 2016" then select it, otherwise select "More apps", again, if you see "Excel 2016" then select it, otherwise select "Look for another app on this PC"

    > In the file dialog that pops up you need to find your EXCEL.EXE - mine was living in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16" (I run 64-bit Office) - you can find this quickly by using the Excel 2016 icon in the start menu, selecting More/Open File Location, and then looking at the properties of the icon (lmk if that doesn't make sense to you)

    > Once you've opened the directory with Excel.exe in the file dialog, select it and then select the "Open" button

    This *should* now mean that when you double-click .xls files that Excel 2016 will launch and open the file (it works for me). One note: when Excel 2016 launches you'll also get a dialog "Microsoft Excel isn't currently your default program...", to stop this becoming annoying select "Don't show this message again" and select "No".

    I hope this gets you unblocked while we work on understanding how this happens and fix it...

    ...pc

    This worked for me, but it didn't restore the icons of the files. I suppose I have to make some edits in the registry.

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