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

Anonymous

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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

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

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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470 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-07-26T16:11:52+00:00

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

ok, I just did this:

control panel

programs and features

select your MS office program,

click change on upper bar,

and a repair button comes up, click repair,

and it took a few minutes, but it worked.

Thanks, doing the full/online repair did it for me. I had tried the file assn, but .xls was correctly assigned to Excel 2016. Then I tried an Office update (Office 365 Business) and still didn't work. Finally followed these directions and it works fine now.
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Anonymous

2016-07-27T20:00:33+00:00

Hi Freya,

Thank you for the information. I ran the Quick Repair for my Office but Excel 2016 still can't open .xls files in my instance. Can you inform us when other solutions are resolved and what I should do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance!

Xue
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Anonymous

2016-07-31T12:27:06+00:00

Freya

Having spent an unhappy 4 hours this morning re-installing and repairing Office I found a work around that DOES work for my situation to be this.

Generally, these files are generated by organisations outside your own - banks and credit card companies in my case, when generating statement reports.

Office 2016 seems to automatically 'block' any file that is not generated on the installation conputer. So, to get round this Save the file to your hard drive.

Identify the .xls file in File Explorer. Right-click the file name > Properties > General at the bottom of the dialog box is the Security section - tick the 'Unblock' box.

That worked for me, I hope it helps others.

Cheers

Mike
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