Explorer on Windows10 does not recognise office apps

NicoScot 6 Reputation points
2021-03-22T06:09:06.89+00:00

Hi, I have Microsoft office installed on my laptop (Office 2016) and I've had it for years. All was working well until today when I did a Windows update (I have been running Windows 10 since it came out). Suddenly I cannot double click on the office files to open them, for Excel and PowerPoint documents it asks me "How do you want to open this file?" and suggest I look for an app on Microsoft Store, but of course on Microsoft store it tells me that I already own the Excel App and have it installed.... For Word documents it opens them in WordPad... Now the weirdest thing is that I have two user accounts on my laptop, when I am logged on my main user account there are no issues whatsoever but when I am logged on my second account that's when I have problems! I have tried to do a repair on the app but it does not work - see the screenshot attached. I haven't gone down the path of uninstalling and reinstalling since it works on my other account. Does anybody have a solution? ![80043-screenshot-excel-details.png][1] [1]: /api/attachments/80043-screenshot-excel-details.png?platform=QnA

Windows 10 Compatibility
Windows 10 Compatibility
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Compatibility: The extent to which hardware or software adheres to an accepted standard.
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Word Management
Word Management
Word: A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
892 questions
Excel Management
Excel Management
Excel: A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
1,639 questions
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  1. NicoScot 6 Reputation points
    2021-03-25T01:59:50.523+00:00

    Hi to all,
    Thanks for your responses.
    It was a tricky situation so hard to describe accurately.
    I could not apply the solution from emilyhua-msft as I could not find the Excel or other apps and programs in the lists (they just were not showing anywhere!!).
    In reading StefanBlom-6438 comment I knew I had a desktop version of office installed so I looked again through the Apps and Feature and found one called "Microsoft Office Desktop Apps", I selected it and clicked repair, which this time did not send me an error message, "et voila"! I can double click on my Office files in the explorer again!
    Cheers,
    Nicolas

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Emily Hua-MSFT 27,526 Reputation points
    2021-03-23T03:04:03.867+00:00

    @NicoScot

    The Excel app shown on your image is not a traditional Excel application.
    Please log on the Windows account with this issue, then go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, check whether there is Office 2016 displayed on Control Panel.

    1. If yes, you may go back to Start menu > Settings > Apps > Excel (Or Word, PowerPoint) > Uninstall, just keep a traditional Office suite left like the following screenshot.
    80380-capture52.png

    • If this step does not work, please go to File Explorer > Right click one Office file, such as one Excel workbook > Properties > Check whether the application is Excel.
    • You could click Change > More apps > Look for another app on this PC (The last option) > Locate to the root directory of the Office installation, choose EXCEL.EXE to open, click Apply, OK.
      (For example, the 64-bit Office Professioanl Plus 2016, the path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16.)
      The 64-bit Office Home&Student 2016, the path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16.)
    • The same step for other Office apps.

    2. If not, the all Office apps seem to be installed from Microsoft Store. I would suggest you check the default app which used to open these files directly.
    Click Default Apps on left button list > click "Choose default apps by file type" at bottom > make sure some Office files, such as the default app for .xlsx, .xls are Excel, for .docx, .doc are Word.
    80358-capture53.png

    Any updates, please let me know.

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  3. Stefan Blom 2,061 Reputation points MVP
    2021-03-24T15:34:00.207+00:00

    Which version of Office are you running? If you have a subscription or a perpetual license, you should be able to install the desktop versions via your account at https://account.microsoft.com/services.

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  4. Wes Lobo 1 Reputation point
    2022-12-13T22:21:36.437+00:00

    Whew! It's Dec 2022 and I've experienced the same, "... valid app not installed," issue when exploring to an Excel file. I have Office 365 subscription installed on my desktop running Win 10. Tried the Control Panel/Programs listing but Office 365 was not there. Re-installed Office 365 but still no go - however - Office 365 was now listed in Control Panel/Programs. Right clicked it there and selected "Change", then "Repair Online" option. To coin a phrase, "et voila". All is well - finally.

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