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
    2016-07-22T08:05:49+00:00

    Hi Where can I find that repair or Fix? I am facing this same issue too.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-22T17:14:12+00:00

    There is no repair.

    Don't waste your time.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-22T17:56:42+00:00

    I would have agreed with you about 24 hours ago, but my computer finally opens XL2016 when I double-click on a filename in Explorer. Also, the jumplist of files in the Excel shortcut on my Windows taskbar works properly by opening XL2016.

    None of these steps worked independently, but ***something*** finally clicked to make it work. Perhaps all four are required???

    1. Set the association between XLS and XL2016
    2. Use the "update" function built into XL2016. Access from Excel via File > Account > Office updates
    3. Manually edit the Windows Registry. By searching through the Registry, I found three instances where "Excel Protocol" was associated with Office 2010, instead of Office 2016 as it should be, and one instance where it was associated with Office 2016. I created a new .reg file to change the 2010 entries to match the 2016 entry.
    4. Using Control Panel > Programs and Features > Office 2016 > Change, I was able to repair the O2016 installation.

    ONLY after completing the final step did the file association work properly (and then it took many seconds for XL2016 to launch. That behaviour seems to have disappeared today). Furthermore, a Registry-monitoring program that I use alerted me that the Repair in step 4 tried to create an association with O2010, instead of the correct O2016. I rejected that change, and kept the O2016 association. Overall, the repair seems fragile.

    I don't claim that any of these steps will work for anyone else, nor that it will continue to work on my computer. I only write this to provide a glimmer of hope for anybody else struggling with this inexcusable behaviour. **** is Microsoft doing by allowing such a glaring bug to remain for so long on their flagship product? It's beyond comprehension.

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