2016 Excel opens two windows when opening file

Anonymous
2017-10-24T21:36:41+00:00

When I open an Excel file from Explorer by clicking on the file, two windows open: the spreadsheet AND a second Excel window, no spreadsheet open--just a blank Excel Window.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2018-01-19T18:57:25+00:00

Your 'c' option fixed this issue for me.   I recently installed MySQL on my laptop and that was the COM Add-in that triggered a secondary 'blank' spreadsheet.   As soon as I unchecked 'MySQL for Excel' under COM Add-ins, I only open the spreadsheet I desired.

Thanks

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Anonymous
2018-07-04T03:07:13+00:00

I disabled the solver add-ins and no more second sheet (blank) : options --> Add-ins --> Manage Excel Add-ins  (bottom) --> Go...

Unchecked Solver Add-in box and it worked.

I may need later to re-enable the Solver Add-in but at least I have a way to disable that second annoying window. Hope this helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-09-30T03:59:03+00:00

    Additional:  It also turn out that if you want to personalize (i.e. set defaults for) new workbooks, you also face this issue.

    In this instance however the workaround for the Add-ins issue doesn't solve the problem.

    Just to clarify: The workaround is to open Excel, then open files for the file explorer.

    So now (in either scenario) there's constantly an unwanted excel window open.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-27T03:32:41+00:00

    Same, same.  i.e. only by disabling installed Add-ins can I make this work as it used to.

    I have identified that enabling some Add-ins, and the bug doesn't manifest, whereas with others, it does.

    As all my Add-ins: 1) operate in a very similar way, and 2) did not cause this bug to manifest previously, I don't know where start looking.

    So I add my request top that of Dean Ziegler:

    A)  Can Microsoft provide any insight into what changed that would cause this to happen?

    B)  Can Microsoft advise if they intend to fix the issue?

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-11T16:11:00+00:00

    Joanne,

    I am a developer of an Excel add-in, and this 'second grey window' problem appeared about a year ago as part of a Windows or Office update.

    Because Microsoft has a habit of introducing as many (or more) bugs than fixes, we have a habit of keeping some development computers around that don't accept automatic Office updates.

    On Office 365 version 16.0.4429.1024, our add-in works correctly. (no second grey window)

    On the most recent version of Office 365, launching our add-in causes a second grey window to be launched.

    Exact same add-in; it is Microsoft Excel (or Windows) that changed.

    For obvious reasons, advising our customers to 'disable our add-in' is not an acceptable solution.

    Is it possible for Microsoft to isolate what changed in Excel?

    and then either:

    1. Fix it (to work the way Excel has always worked in the past with add-ins)

    or 2) At least let us developers know what changed, and how we can re-write our applications to work with Excel's (currently undocumented) revised code?

    I notice that this happens only when opening an Excel file through Windows.

    If you open Excel first, and then open the same Excel file, no second window appears.

    We're getting requests for support from our customers, and don't know how to address this new bug.

    Any advice?

    Dean Ziegler

    Systems2win

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