There are several issues for which the Excel file does not open properly and It’s bothering us if we can’t open a file. So here, I’ll try to introduce the frequently happened issues and 7 solutions with clear illustrations if Excel files are not opening from file explorer.

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7 Fixes: Excel Files Not Opening from File Explorer

Have a look, I tried to open an Excel file but I couldn’t. Now I’ll show 7 possible solutions to solve this problem.

1. Choose the Correct Application to Open Excel File

First, I’ll show the most common reason for not opening a file- maybe you are opening the file in the wrong app. You must ensure the proper app for a file to open.

Steps:

• Right-click your mouse on the file.
• Then select Open with from the appeared context menu.

• Next, select Excel and mark Always use this app to open xlsx files.
• Finally, just press OK.

Now see, the Excel file opened properly.

2. Reset Default Apps

There is a setting- Reset Default Apps in Windows settings by using it we can reset all the default apps. So if someone set an improper app for an app then this setting will reset it and set the by default related app. Let’s see how to reset.

Steps:

• Opne Control Panel on your PC.
• Later, click on Programs.

• After that, click Default Programs.

• Next, click Set your default programs.

• Finally, just scroll down and press Reset from the Reset all default apps section.

• Now double-click on the file to open.

And see, it opened properly.

3. Unmark Ignore DDE Option

Because of enabling the Ignore other options that use Dynamic Data Exchange(DDE) your Excel file may not open. I’ll show you here, how to disable it.

Steps:

• Click on File Tab.

• After appearing the File menu, click More > Options.

Soon after, a dialog box named Excel Options will open up.

• Press the Advanced menu.
• Then scroll down and unmark Ignore other options that use Dynamic Data Exchange option from the General section.
• Press OK to finish.

Then I hope your Excel file will open from file explorer like the image below.

4. Disable Add-Ins

We can use third-party/ Excel’s built-in Add-Ins in Excel to perform extra operations. But for that sometimes your Excel file may not open. So you should remove the add-ins if you fail to open your Excel file.

Steps:

• Follow the first two steps from the third method to open the Excel Options dialog box.
• Then click on the Add-Ins menu and select COM Add-ins from the Manage section’s drop-down list.

• Next, press GO and the COM Add-ins dialog box will open up.

• Unmark all the appeared Add-ins and press OK.

Now you see, the file opened with the file explorer.

5. Turn Off Hardware Graphics Acceleration

In some cases, the Excel file can’t open for keeping marked the Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration. So you can try to open the file after unmarking it.

Steps:

• Follow the first two steps from the third method to open the Excel Options dialog box.
• Then click on the Advanced menu and unmark Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration from the Display section.
• Press OK to finish.

Hope your Excel file will open then.

6. Repair Your Microsoft Office

You can repair your Microsoft Office if the above methods failed. Sometime after repairing Office works well.

Steps:

• First, click the Windows icon then click the Settings icon.

• Later, click on Apps.

• At this moment, scroll down and click Microsoft 365 > Modify.

• Now mark any option and press Repair.

Quick Repair doesn’t need an internet connection but can’t solve all the issues, Online Repair needs an internet connection and can solve all issues.

My Excel file is opening properly after repairing.

7. Contact Microsoft Support

The above methods are all possible ways that we can do by ourselves. But if those methods can’t solve your problems then the last option is- you can contact Microsoft Support. There are many Excel experts there who can give you solutions for your particular problems.

Conclusion

I hope the procedures described above will be good enough to fix the problem when Excel files are not opening from file explorer. Feel free to ask any question in the comment section and please give me feedback. Visit ExcelDemy to explore more.

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