I have to open an Excel file twice for it to actually open

Nadeem Ahmad M A 21 Reputation points
2021-09-09T07:46:30.17+00:00

When I open an excel file first time it opens excel, but does not open the actual file.
If I open the same file second time, it opens correctly.
Essentially, I have to open an excel file twice of it to actually open.
I've tried to do some research, but couldn't find anything that makes sense.

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.
1,640 questions
Accepted answer
  1. Viki Ji_MSFT 4,411 Reputation points
    2021-09-10T02:48:06.31+00:00

    Hi @Nadeem Ahmad M A ,
    Welcome to Q&A forum!
    Which version of Office are you using?
    Please try to modify the following registry key to check this issue.

    • Type Run in Windows search bar, press Enter. Then type regeidt in the Run box and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
    • Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command, double-click (default) to append "%1" to the end of the Value data or replace /dde with "%1". ๏ผˆDouble quotes are also included, and don't change the original other data. ๏ผ‰

    The following is my test result in Office 365, please check.
    130924-image.png

    If the above key does not work, please check the methods in the following 2 articles are helpful.
    Excel opening blank
    Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it in the correct Office program
    Any updates, please let me know.

    Update:

    For repairing Office, please navigate to Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features, then select the Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, click Change. If there is "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" prompted, please click Yes. Select Online Repair and click Repair.
    131575-image.png

    If an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

3 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Nadeem Ahmad M A 21 Reputation points
    2021-09-10T03:33:16.02+00:00

    HI @Viki Ji_MSFT

    Thank you for the comment.
    I tried everything including the additional links you suggested. But no improvements.
    My problem is not limited to a particular file. Any file I want to open, I should open twice to actually to get it open.

  2. Nadeem Ahmad M A 21 Reputation points
    2021-09-10T08:02:03.013+00:00

    HI @Viki Ji_MSFT

    Thank you for your support.
    Please check the attachment for the details you need.
    I noticed one thing, After the changes I made in Registry Editor, I can able to open .xlsx file. Other format files is continuing with the same problem(eg: .xls, .csv etc.,)

    131026-ann-001.pdf

  3. Nadeem Ahmad M A 21 Reputation points
    2021-09-13T09:32:56.717+00:00

    Hi @Viki Ji_MSFT

    I apologies for the delayed response.
    I did not use my PC in weekend.
    Just now I did run the repair and seems t be working fine.
    Thank you for your continuous support.

    Thanks and Regards
    Nadeem Ahmad