How to Open Multiple Excel Files in One Window (4 Easy Methods)

This article will discuss how you can open multiple Excel files in one window. Often working with Microsoft Excel, we may need to open and view multiple workbooks simultaneously in a single window. Opening two workbooks in the same window helps us to compare data very easily. Besides, you can copy-paste data, even formulas very easily when two files are opened in a single window. Thus we can handle a large amount of data very easily.

How to Open Multiple Excel Files in One Window: 4 Methods

Suppose I have two different workbooks containing sales and time data. Now I will open both of these files using the below methods.

1. Use Windows and Arrow Keys to Open Multiple Excel Files in Single Window

First of all, I will use the combination of Windows and arrow keys to open two Excel files in a single window. Follow the below steps to do the task.

Steps:

• Before viewing two different files in one window, first, open the files separately.
• Next, while viewing the first Excel workbook, press Windows + → keys to place the active Excel file (Time_Data.xlsx) on the right side of your monitor window.

• As a result, we will get the below result. Here we can see both files are visible in one window.

• Now if you want to place the active Excel file on the left side of the PC monitor, press the Windows + ← keys.

• Hence, here we get the below result.

Read More: How to Open Excel Files in Separate Windows by Default

2. Excel ‘Arrange All’ Command to Open Multiple Files in One Window

In this method, I will use Excel ‘Arrange All’ command to view multiple files in a single window. Here are the steps to perform the task.

Steps:

• Open two Excel workbooks you want to view simultaneously.
• Then, go to any of the opened Excel files (say Time_Data.xlsx) and follow View > Arrange All.

• Clicking on the Arrange All command will bring up the Arrange Windows dialog.
• Now, if you want to view Excel files in vertical arraignment, click on Vertical and press OK.

• Consequently, both the Excel files will be displayed as shown in the below screenshot.

• If you want to arrange Excel files in the horizontal arraignment, click on the Horizontal option and press OK.

• Finally, we will see both the Excel files are arranged in one window.

⏩ Note:

If you want to open multiple Excel files (say 3 or more) in a single window, follow the same process mentioned above and get the below result.

3. View Multiple Excel Files Side by Side in Single Window

In this method, I will show how you can view and compare Excel files side by side. Follow the below steps to view multiple Excel files in one window.

Steps:

• First, open all the Excel files you want to display side by side.
• Next, go to any of the files, and follow View > View Side by Side.

• As a result, excel will prompt the Compare Side by Side dialog asking which file you want to compare (if more than two Excel files are opened on your machine). Choose the file and press OK.

• As a consequence, here is the output we will get.

⏩ Note:

The advantage of the above process is that you can scroll side-by-side windows synchronously.

4. Open Multiple Excel Files in One Window Manually

You can open multiple Excel files in a single window manually too.

Steps:

• In the beginning, you can place files side by side with the Restore Down button located in the top-right corner of the Excel window.

• After that, drag the Excel files manually and place them in the desired positions.

Open New Window for Same Excel File

You can open new windows of a specific Excel workbook. Suppose, I have an Excel file named: Time_Data.xlsx. Now I will open a new window of this workbook.

Steps:

• From the Ribbon, go to View > New Window.

• As a result, the Excel file is opened in a new window. Each time a new window opens, Excel adds a hyphen and a number after the original file name.

• Similarly, you can open more windows for a similar Excel file by applying the New Window command.

Things to Remember

• You can toggle between Excel windows using Alt + Tab keys.
• The keyboard shortcut to open a new window of an Excel file is Alt + W + N.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook that we have used to prepare this article.

Conclusion

In the above article, I have tried to discuss several methods to open multiple Excel files in one window elaborately. Hopefully, these methods and explanations will be enough to solve your problems. Please let me know if you have any queries.

Related Articles

• How to Open Two Excel Files Separately
• How to Open Multiple Excel Files in One Workbook

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