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
    2017-02-23T21:57:24+00:00

    Go back and check my post of Oct 31 - that method has worked for me and at least a few other people.  Note that at the time I wrote it, it was different from the instructions on the MS Office website.  Two main differences: 1) my method works, and 2) it's easier, although it can take a bit longer since your PC will basically reinstall Windows for you to fix this mess.  BTW, LibreOffice is only *somewhat* compatible with Office - if you're doing anything beyond the most basic documents and spreadsheets, LibreOffice WILL bite you in the butt.  I'm really cheap, but paying for an Office 365 subscription is a no-brainer in the frustration avoidance department, since colleagues, customers, and clients no longer complain about weird incompatibilities in the docs I send them anymore...

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-02-24T02:40:48+00:00

    Yeah, Office 365 is great.

    As long as you install it in the Microsoft approved folder located only on the C: partition (if you have room there) and you don't mind if it randomly rejects its own files.  Otherwise, you're screwed.

    It isn't just double clicking on a file that doesn't work. If I try to open a spreadsheet in a web page, it will also crash.

    I did your method and all the others in this thread and none of them work. This seems like a trivial problem. Microsoft is uninterested in fixing it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-02-25T19:56:08+00:00

    The fix did not work.

    I'm shocked that this bug is out there with no fix

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