Closing Multiple Files

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 14, 2026)

While you are working on multiple workbooks, you may also be wondering how you can quickly close all of them, without exiting Excel. The easy way to do this is to hold down the Shift key as you click on the File menu. When you do this, the Close command (which closes a single workbook) instead becomes Close All (which closes all your open workbooks).

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3245) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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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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