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
    2017-10-25T16:28:51+00:00

    thanks for your help Joanne, unfortunately that did not fix the issue. If I go direct to excel and then open a workbook then I only get one window but if I open an excel file from a saved location I get the double window. While attempting your solution there was already no add-ins selected under COM Add-ins...UGH! Others in my office are experiencing the same issue, we attempted an online repair of O365 and that did not fix it either. Thanks for trying!

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-15T13:48:49+00:00

    My issue turned out to need solution b, but I wasn't able to navigate to Excel/XLSTART the way that you described. I ended up getting there by opening an Excel file (so both windows were open), then going to 'Quick access' in the File Explorer, then right clicking recent file 'PERSONAL.XLSB' and choosing 'Open file location' from the drop down. That brought me to the folder you described where I then right clicked the file again and chose 'Cut' and then pasted onto my desktop. Problem solved! Thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-26T20:54:46+00:00

    Have you checked the other options in my first post and could you let us know the outcome?

    1.Disable preview pane in File Explorer.- YES

    2.Is there any files in this folder C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART?- NO

    When I selected Ignore other application that use DDE and then attempted to open an excel file from file explorer it ONLY opened a blank excel screen, but if I go to open> and choose the workbook it then opens.

    See screen shots below, this has been happening to most of our workstations throughout the office for some time now. I would estimate 6 months or longer. Some are not bothered by it while others are.

    ***PII masked by forum moderator***

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