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
    2017-09-27T18:56:50+00:00

    Still, when I am going to open a xls file, it opens with another app, and when I choose to open with... the options are not excel, so when I choose another pc option... I dont find excel to make it default.

    What can I do to open my xls files with excel, when I try to place it as default for that app it doenst show it as an option either, and gives me the option again to choose another pc option, where I dont find excel.

    I have office 2016

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-10-05T23:35:03+00:00

    I have Office 365. XL doesn't appear as default option for file association. I have inadvertently associated .xls with an incorrect app and now cannot change it to XL. I note that the file association for .xls has been affected by an MS security upgrade but this doesn't help me. Hoping for an easy fix.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-08T14:31:41+00:00

    Excel 2016 isn't even an option in the "Set your default programs" choice when you do this.

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