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 help 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.


Download Practice Workbook

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


4 Methods to Open Multiple Excel Files in One Window

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.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Hence, here we get the below result.

Read More: How to Open Excel Files in Separate Windows by Default (4 Methods)


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.

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

  • 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excel ‘Arrange All’ Command to Open Multiple Files 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.

Read More: [Solved] Excel Files Not Opening in Separate Windows (4 Solutions)


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.

View Multiple Excel Files Side by Side in Single Window

  • 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.

View Multiple Excel Files Side by Side in Single Window

  • 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.

Open Multiple Excel Files in One Window Manually

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

Read More: [Fixed!] Unable to Open Multiple Excel Files (8 Reasons with Solutions)


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.

Open New Window for Same Excel File

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

Open New Window for Same Excel File

  • 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.

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.


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Hosne Ara

Hosne Ara

Hi, This is Hosne Ara. Currently, I do write for ExcelDemy. I have a long experience working with different industries and I have seen how vast the scope of Microsoft Excel is. So, eventually, I started to write articles on Excel and VBA. Basically, my articles are targeted to help people who are working in Excel. By profession, I am an Engineer. Materials and Metallurgical Engineering is my major. Besides, I am a certified Project Manager (PMP) too. I have worked with Power Plant and IT industry earlier. As a person, I am detail-oriented and love doing research. Establishing a greener world is one of my mottos.

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