Unable to Open Excel Files Directly by Clicking the File Icon – 7 Solutions

Solution 1 – Turn Off Excel Add-ins

Steps:

• Go to File.

• Select Options.

• Click Add-ins.
• Choose either Excel Add-ins or COM Add-ins. Here, Excel Add-ins
• Click Go.

• Uncheck one Add-in at a time and click OK.

Double-click the Excel file after unchecking each Add-inn to check if the issue is solved.

Read More: [Fixed!] Why Is My Excel Not Opening Files?

Solution 2 – Uncheck the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Option

Steps:

• Go to the File tab.

• Select Options.

• Choose Advanced.
• Uncheck Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

Read More: Excel Files Not Opening in Separate Windows

Solution 3 – Repair Microsoft Office

Steps:

• Go to the Search option.
• Search Control Panel and click it.

• Select Programs and Features in All Control Panel Items.

• Select Microsoft 365.
• Click Change.
• Select Online Repair.
• Select Repair.

Read More: [Fixed!] Excel Attachments Not Opening from Outlook

Solution 4 – Use an Advanced Feature to Disable the Hardware Graphics Acceleration

Steps:

• Go the File tab.

• Click Options.

• Select Advanced.
• Check Disable hardware graphics acceleration in Display
• Click OK.

Solution 5 – Use the Safe Mode

Steps:

• Go to Search.
• Search Run and click it.

• Enter excel/safe in Open.
• Click OK.

Read More: [Fixed!] Excel File Not Opening on Double Click

Solution 6 – Set Excel as the Default App

Steps:

• Go to Search.
• Search Default app settings and click it.

• Click Choose default apps by file type.

• Choose Excel in File extensions.

Read More: Unable to Open Two Excel Files at the Same Time

Solution 7 – Reset Windows to Factory Default

Steps:

• Click Search.
• Search Run and click it.

• Enter excel/regserver in Open.
• Click OK.

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