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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

90+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

470 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-05-10T00:35:04+00:00

    Thanks PatHenry2

    After running the fix-it utility, as well as performing the normal modications to the OS file associations, both of which were listed as solutions in this stream, failed. This did the trick. Also, now when I go back to the OS file associations, .xls is correctly listed with Excel.

    MS needs to get their methods to fixing this, corrected. We SHOULD be able to change the programs associated with any extension, in the OS settings.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-10T00:20:25+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

    It does not work. no matter how we address this we cannot access xls files by clicking on them. We must first open Excel and then use excel to open the file. you cannot click on the file directly until you have saved it in the new format

    Did not work. I also tried the fixit utility mentioned elsewhere in this stream, to no avail. As it is the only way to open an .XLS file is to first open Excel, the from within Excel browse to the file and open it. Works great. But too many steps. I would rather the OS know what program I want to open a file based on the extension as Bill Gates intended.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-10T00:16:26+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

    Downloaded and ran fixit tool. No help. When I go to gear icon -> Apps -> Default Apps -> Choose Default Apps by File Type -> (scroll down to .xls) my only options are 'Internet Explorer' or 'Look for an App in the Store'.

    I have windows 10 Pro, Office 365 - Excel 2016. All the other Excel extensions are successfully set to 'Excel 2016' and work fine.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments