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
    2018-04-02T17:29:43+00:00

    I had the same experience by being sent to the store.

    Do this and you should be good:

    This works for Office 365, Excel 2016

    Right click your .xls file 

    Select Properties

    Select Change under Open With

    Select Look for another app on this PC

    Select Excel application in this directory below:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

    It links the .xls file type to Excel

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-10T01:32:36+00:00

    This worked for me in Windows 10:

     1. Right Click on the file with the .xls extension.

     2. Go to -->Open with from the drop down menu.

     3. Next click on -->Choose another app from the 2nd drop down menu

     4. A dialogue box will open with "How do you want to open this file?" at the top 

     5. Click on -->More apps in blue with a down arrow next to the words.

     6. Scroll down to the bottom of the list of apps it gives you

     7. Click on -->Look for another app on this PC

     8. Find the executable file EXCEL.EXE (See info below on where you will most likely find this)

    C: Program Files (x86) > Microsoft Office > root > Office 16 > EXCEL.EXE

    Click to open the EXCEL.EXE file and your .xls file should open right up. This will also associate Excel 2016 with all .xls files on your computer or any new ones you come accross in the future. You can confirm this file association in the Default app settings in your Windows Settings.

    I hope this helps!!

    KathR

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-09T11:02:07+00:00

    HI Guys:  The Live feed from New York city on October 6th was great, wasn't it!  Some great stuff from Microsoft.  Microsoft can really put the run to Apple, if they can only make stuff work now.  There are two things from this post that concern me. 

    First, that a Microsoft program (Office 2016), installed on a Microsoft OS (Windows 10) messes up the file extension assignments for common programs like Word and Excel.  As far as Microsoft has come, this should not even remotely happen.  And to add to the pain, Excel doesn't even show up in the list to add, until you manually add it once, then it becomes available.  Not a confidence builder.

    Second, why would we have two "Settings" menus?  Why bother with this?  It is a recurring nightmare from Windows 8.  Windows 10 is still suffering a bit from a personality disorder.  For example, if you go to the "associate a file type or protocol with a specific  program" section as listed in above posts, you get two different results, depending on how you got there.  If you use the cute "App", you are powerless to add a desktop application for the .xlsx extension and are directed to the Windows store to install a new "App", when you already have Office 2016 installed.  If you go through "Control Panel", you have the power to do what needs to be done. (Ah, good ole' Control Panel)

    The development team have done a great job with Windows 10.  But I am seeing bugs that should not exist, not with today's technology in Windows.  The MacHeads are going to have a field day with issues like this.  We needs solid consistency throughout the OS and consistent ways to get things done, not half applied apps that behave differently depending on how you get there.

    Just my nickel's worth.

    :)

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