Windows 10: How to make Excel 2016 the default app to open xls and xlsx data files

I know how I'm supposed to do it, SETTINGS==>DEFAULT APPS==>CHOOSE THE DEFAULT APP BY FILE TYPE, but Excel 2016 is not an option. Instead, it tries to send me to the App Store. I think I have tried everything except reinstalling Office.

:)

 

Excel not recognized as an app in Windows 10.

Hi

I had this problem as well when upgrading Office 365 to 2016 in Windows 10. It relates to Excel 2016 only recognising newer ".xlsx" files as worksheets and not the older excel files (".xls"). Opening ".xls" files from within Excel 2016 worked just fine,
but not being able to open them by clicking the file in a folder is a nuisance

I solved it by doing the following

Go to "Settings" - "System" - "Default apps"

Scroll down, select "Set defaults by app"

Select "Excel 2016"

Select "Choose defaults for this program"

A list of file types will come up including ".xls" which in my case was blank.

Tick the ".xls" box and save

When you next click on a ".xls" file you will be given the option for Excel 2016. Once this is selected once, it seems to work for other ".xls" files. However, a pop-up stating that "Excel is not the default for editing spreadsheets" will come up which
I just close.

Hopefully a later upgrade will fix it, at least this work around means you don't have to open ".xls" files from within the Excel app.

 

Excel file type disappeared

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The lost of .xls has no option for choosing Excel 2016, however other most .xl files could choose Excel 2016.

And when my older version excel file opened with Adobe, it cannot display correctly.

Any other method can help this issue fix?

Thank you.

 

Use Control panel, default programs, associate a file type - you have more options to select version.

If your 2016 is the desktop version, you have to bury into menus by clicking more apps and scrolling until you find "look for another app on this pc", and then navigate to the 2016 excel executable.

 

I do not get the option to look for another app on the pc, I get the option to look for an app in the app store.

Why is Microsoft trying to be Apple ?

 

Have you tried going into Control Panel, Default Programs and making changes there to set the file type/s to open as desired?

 

For some reason it wont update the setting for Excel 2016 to open .xls files

Default Apps
Set default by app
Excel 2016
Choose defaults for this program
tick .xls Microsoft Excel 97-2003
Current default - unknown application
save

Does not update the current default from unknown application

(unfortunately I dont know how to screen dump the screen I am looking at )

John

 

I am having the exact same issue as John posted above.
I've tried the above option as well as changing the protected view settings - nothing works. This is extremely annoying and I agree with an earlier poster who said "Why is Microsoft trying to be Apple" If you have a product that works please keep it operating in the same fundamental manner. I don't want to go to the $^%# app store. Any assistance will be well received. Here is a screen shot:

 

You are supposed to double click on the entry for .xls in control Panel > Set Associations and in the window that opens choose "More Apps" then in the file explorer window that opens up browse to the Excel executable and select it.








See: Cant find Office applications in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7? - Office Support

So launch Excel and leave it running. Start Task Manager [Ctrl+Shift+Esc]

In task manager processes tab scroll to excel.exe and right click on it. Choose "open file location" from the list and in the window that opens locate excel.exe and note the folder path. Use that path to browse to the executable in the step above that mentions browsing to the executable.

 

Thanks for the info but unfortunately when I double click NOTHING happens *Sad

 

I really appreciate your help, but I keep getting the pop-up that sends me to the app store *Sad

 

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!! Finally overcame this PITA issue, no thanks to MS. Thinking about moving to Mars and never coming back after this ordeal.

 

Attachment 148604

Sorry about that. I forgot about app store lookup for files that cannot be opened. That's because on my machine I set it not to look up apps in the store so instead it offers to allow the user to browse for a program that's installed on the PC (or needs to be installed)Attachment 148604

 

Have you tried this brute force setting in Control Panel where you set Excel as the default program for EVERYTHING it is capable of opening ?

 

TO: whoever it was that made the comment about opening Excel then opening the Task Manager to be able to see where Excel 2016 was residing...................thank you! That was such an elegant solution which allowed me to fix the Excel 2016 not wanting to acknowledge the .xls extension problem. I was pulling my hair out, like the other people on this thread trying to associate an extension to a program that just wasn't showing up in the lists like it should. Once I knew where Excel was, then I could find it through the 'browse your computer', just like you said.

Anyway, I just joined the forum to tell you thanks....you helped me that much. I'm an accountant who just converted to Win 10 and Excel 2016 so this was a REALLY BIG DEAL.