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

2016-10-17T20:53:55+00:00

HLP.. Where is this fix. I never uninstalled Excel?

TY
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Anonymous

2016-10-19T21:09:47+00:00

Happens here, too. This is really weird - I broke the screen on my SP4 and had to get a replacement, so it was completely clean and Office 365 was the FIRST thing installed after running all the Windows Updates. Although I can't swear to it, I'm actually pretty sure this didn't afflict my previous SP4, which *should* be identical...

Under Settings/System/Default Apps (scroll to bottom)/Set Defaults by app (Brings up Win7 default programs control panel)/Excel 2016 it doesn't matter what I do: The .xls extension (which you can see by choosing "Choose defaults for this program") continues to show "Unknown application" under the "Current Default" column.

Serious bugginess. Right now, the ONLY way I can open a .XLS file in Excel/Office is to open Excel first and then drag the .XLS file onto it from a File Exporer Window.

I kinda figured I could count on Excel to be the default for its own filetypes, but not only is it not the default, you apparently can't MAKE it open Excel files without jumping through hoops. UNBELIEVABLE...
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Anonymous

2016-10-24T15:32:58+00:00

"Look for another app on this PC" is not an option when trying to associate .XLS with Excel2016 on my Win10 (64 bit) desktop. "Look for an app in the Store" is there but is useless. .XLSX is already associated.

Until this gets fixed, I have to open .XLS files from within Excel2016... I can't doubleclick on an .XLS to open it.
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