Cannot Double-Click to Open a Workbook

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated May 30, 2016)

17

Frank was having a problem with Excel not opening a workbook whenever he would double-click on it in Windows. Excel would start, but the workbook would not load, and Excel would report that it couldn't find the file that was double-clicked.

This sounds like a problem with the file associations in Windows. The first thing to try is to force Excel to reconstruct all the proper association information. You do that by following these steps:

  1. Make sure that Excel is not running (exit the program).
  2. Click the Start button to displays the Start menu.
  3. From the Start menu, choose Run. Windows displays the Run dialog box.
  4. In the Open box, enter the full path name to your Excel program, followed by the /regserver switch. If the full path name includes spaces, surround the full path name by quote marks. The following is an example of what you can enter in the Open box (your path may be different):
    5.      "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /regserver
  5. Click OK.

Now try double-clicking on your workbook again. It should open as you expect. If it doesn't, try this:

  1. In Excel, choose Options from the Tools menu. Excel displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Make sure the General tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The General tab of the Options dialog box.

  3. Make sure the Ignore Other Applications check box is selected.
  4. Click on OK.

If you still cannot double-click on a workbook to open it, try these steps:

  1. Get out of Excel completely.
  2. Open a My Computer window.
  3. Choose Tool | Folder Options. You should see the Folder Options dialog box.
  4. Make sure the File Types tab is displayed.
  5. In the list of registered file types, find and select the entry for XLS (Microsoft Excel Worksheet).
  6. Depending on your version of Windows, click on either the Edit or the Advanced button. You should see the Edit File Type dialog box.
  7. In the list of actions, choose Open.
  8. Click the Edit button. Windows displays the Editing Action dialog box.
  9. The Application Used to Perform Action box contains the actual command line used to start Word. Double-check the line to make sure there are no strange extra filenames at the end of the command line.
  10. Make sure the Use DDE check box is selected, and that the DDE Message box is set to the following:
    11.      [open("%1")]
  11. Click on OK.
  12. Close all the other open dialog boxes.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2949) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is one more than 9?

2020-01-02 10:43:32

Brad

THANK YOU!!!

I've had this issue for a couple months and haven't been able to resolve it. I've read no less than 20 sites which all had the same few suggestions. None worked.

Then I tried your initial suggestion and it worked! Interestingly enough, I had reset the file associations a couple times recently but that didn't fly, so I had little confidence yours would work.

Your site has never failed me in any tip, trick, or workaround. I'll speak your name loudly next time I raise an adult beverage to honor those who get $h!t done right the first time...

Brad

2018-06-04 11:06:26

Andy C.

In Excel 2013, the checkbox mentioned in #3 is now in Advanced, not General, but found and successfully used your tip while on hold with my company's tech support line. Thanks!!

2018-01-11 08:25:55

Ljubomir

For me, antivirus was making the problem (ESET). After I disabled documents protection in antivirus, Excel started to open files on doubleclick. With clicked ON "Ignore other applications..."

2017-02-11 11:44:35

Kathy

These instructions don't work for Windows 10, can you add them for Windows 10?

2016-10-30 15:25:20

Gordon

I have a similar problem and have tried all of the above with no success. When I look at the default file associations for Excel, the XLSX file type is associated with Internet Explorer instead of Excel. Is there anyway to correct that?

Thanks.

2016-07-18 04:27:55

Clarity Auto Detailing

it worked for me with the "ignore other applications" unchecked.
Thanks from Indonesia

2016-03-29 03:20:11

partha p borah

it really helps me in some helpless situation,,thanks google and Allen Wyatt

2015-12-04 14:48:25

Fennie Lau

i can't open my excel file, reason from computer servicing said my file is too big. How can i re open my file? it's urgent for my.

thank you.

fennie

2015-08-13 16:13:44

Mihails

The second recommendation worked for me, thank you very much!

2015-01-28 03:58:55

XLLL2

As CK Chandru said above, it worked for me by UNCHECKING the "ignore other applications" box in the Excel Settings.

2014-12-29 20:49:46

Rod Clift

I tried what Alex Hatzo tried and it worked perfectly for Excel 2013/ Office 365. Thanks!

2014-12-28 16:58:50

Bill

the Control Panel/Programme and Features/Microsoft Office 365/Change/Quick Repair fix worked for me - many thanks

2014-12-05 09:13:18

Mark Anderson

I work at a big corporation. The Help Desk fixed this for me. But it only lasted a week, and now it's bad again.

Someone else said they fixed it using Chandru's method above of unchecking that box. But her fix only lasted a week too.

I have now used the Quick Repair method of Alex. That works. But who knows how long it will last.

By the way I couldn't use your first fix above, because I don't know how to find the regserver. Is this something that everyone should know?

2014-06-23 13:03:30

CK Chandru

The solution you provided worked,ie, the 1st option in combination with the second.
Only in my case I had to UNCHECK the "ïgnore other applications"option.
Thank you! From India

2014-06-22 12:59:26

Alex Hatzo

I was able to fix the problem of not being able to open Excel 2013 files when double ckicking by going to Control Panel, Program and Features, selecting Microsoft Office 365, selecting Change and then Quick Repair. It does take a few minutes to complete but it worked!

2014-05-30 11:55:58

Meg

Your first instructions worked for me. This was such an easy fix. I have tried several much more complicated things offered by Microsoft, and none of them worked. Thank you so much!

2013-06-12 23:22:51

Jorge

The second recommendation worked for me, thank you!

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