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Can't open excel file in excel but can with Office Mobile

Anonymous
2015-07-23T14:12:14+00:00

I have downloaded Excel onto both my Android phone and Android tablet (both Samsung).  I also have (Microsoft) Office Mobile on my phone.  I have an Excel s/sht that I created on my desktop stored into my Onedrive account that I can access using Office Mobile but cannot access with the downloaded versions of Excel on either my phone or tablet.  Both the phone and tablet versions of Excel says it can't open because the file has 'Workbook protection'.  The file doesn't have any password protection on it.  Any reason why this happens.  It seems weird I can open the file with Office Mobile but not the (I guess) functionaly 'richer' version of the downloaded Excel.  Thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-16T02:32:18+00:00

    Hi Bob,

    To isolate your concern, have you checked if your Excel app is updated to the latest version? How about uninstalling/reinstalling the app on your Android phone?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-12-14T21:14:38+00:00

    I have similar issue. Note the following differences:

    1. I am trying to open .xlsx file from my box.com account, rather than onedrive
    2. I don't believe I have or had any password protections on this file
    3. I, too, was able to open the file from the Office (Not Excel) app on my Android 5.0, but

    It didn't seem to open until after I started to back out of the app (or it just took that long to open the file

    I received an error stating that I "cannot edit the file" when I tried to sort the spreadsheet

    App store states that Office app is intended or supports only Android 4.4 or earlier and that I should use Excel, word, etc. apps for my newer Android OS' (I have Android 5.0)

    1. I receive two pop-up messages as I try to open file

    First, asking me to confirm that I trust the file's author (I said yes, since I'm the author!)

    Second, telling me Excel cannot open the file

    No further help or clues about the issue

    1. Sadly, I can open the file from box on several other spreadsheet apps and, so far, only Excel fails to open this Excel file! None of the apps can both sort and filter columns, both of which I would like to do and assume/hope that the Excel app can/should be able to do for an Excel file.
    2. I was able to open another .xlsx file from Box via Excel app on my Android 5.0 samsung phone (same device, app, source and folder within Box)

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-24T06:55:45+00:00

    Sushma

    thanks for replying.  In answer to your questions:

    1. The file is stored on my onedrive account.  When look at the file's properties, under 'Shared with' it shows the 'padlock' and says 'Only you can access this file'.  If this is the problem it seems odd that I should have to share the file with myself?
    2. I can open and save another file I created with either Excel or Office Mobile on my android phone.  I checked this file's properties and they are the same as the file I cannot open (ie 'Only you can access this file').
    3. Both files have the extension .xlsx.

    I should point out that the file I cannot open did have password protection on it but I removed this.  So now, when I open it Iam not prompted for any password.

    The other odd thing, is when I look for the Office Mobile App in the google App store, it isn't there.  I was hoping that by loading it onto my tablet I could get round the issue.

    Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-07-24T06:31:13+00:00

    Hi David,

    Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

    1. Whether the Excel is shared?
    2. Are you able to open or save other Excel files apart from this particular file?
    3. What is the extension of the file? is it .xls or .xlsx?

    Provide some more information related to the issue for further assistance.

    If you have any questions related to Office, feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you.

    Thank you.

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