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?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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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
    2017-03-24T09:03:34+00:00

    Hello! Thank you all so much for your patience while we worked on this issue. The Excel team has released a fix for this problem:

    When you try to open an .XLS or .XLSX file in Excel 2016, it does not recognize it as an Excel file and open it. Excel may not appear in the list of applications to choose from. This is caused by uninstalling Office and it removes the file associations.

    This released fix should solve any issues that could also be fixed by the Quick Repair. If your issue is not solved by downloading the latest release of Excel, or by doing a Quick Repair, we are still working on other solutions.

    Freya

    Office Newsroom

    Dear 

    I didn't have this problem till last week,

    It seems that there is an update which brought it back.

    Now, .XLS file aren't accessible anymore by EXCEL 2016 Win 10.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-14T00:04:33+00:00

    It might have been a good thing to possibly provide a link to the solution.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-03-10T17:49:35+00:00

    I cannot open xls files using EXCEL.  I have tried the fix suggested but cannot use it because instead of (+) in the box for xls files which would enable me to assign a default app these is just a black box.  I have tried reinstalling office 365 but it does not work.

    I have several important files which I cannot open at the moment.

    MikeWooster

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