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
    2016-07-11T16:56:40+00:00

    Hi, it looks like there's a little confusion. We did release a partial fix, that will resolve things for people for whom "quick repair" fixes their issue. The Excel team continues to work on resolving the issue for people who continue to experience the issue. We thank you for your patience as we investigate a fix.

    Freya

    Office Newsroom

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-11T17:10:02+00:00

    I am EXTREMELY disappointed in the way the Microsoft development and support team has handled this urgent break down of one of its best selling software, Microsoft Office 2016. For starters, this SHOULD have been caught in the ALPHA release or even BETA of the software. Not sure why it wasn't since tens of thousands of users reported this within minutes after the release of Office 2016. I would urge Microsoft at this time, to either release a NEW version of Office 2016 for all REGISTERED and LEGAL users and disburse it to us so we may stop the bleeding and the frustration and the hundreds of hours of lost productivity trying to make shift fix this issue that remains largely questionable at best. The new version SHOULD address ALL associations of Microsoft Office products. We didn't purchase AND install Microsoft Office 2016 so that Adobe can run XLS files. As to the lame excuse of what I heard in that "we don't force users to associate" - please spare us this embarrassing statement, since it does not resolve any issues, and further frustrates users that EXPECT Excel to open XLS files and Word to open DOC and DOCX files, etc... We do not expect Photoshop to open up Word files either. FIX IT! It's been MONTHS.  

    If there is no new release, then Microsoft needs to publish an EXACT Procedure for tackling this. This needs to come from Microsoft not from the users. Send it to everyone.  We have heard ALL the excuses. Time for solutions.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-11T17:27:56+00:00

    Hi, it looks like there's a little confusion. We did release a partial fix, that will resolve things for people for whom "quick repair" fixes their issue. The Excel team continues to work on resolving the issue for people who continue to experience the issue. We thank you for your patience as we investigate a fix.

    Freya

    Office Newsroom

    I did the Quick Repair and Excel now excells in the manner I have been accustomed to.  YABBA DABBA DOOOOOOO!  :-)

    Gordon

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