SharePoint file is downloaded instead when opened in Desktop App

Question

Hello!
I have a company laptop and we have Microsoft 365 licenses. In my previous company laptop, whenever I open a file in SharePoint, it opens in browser and then if I want it opened in Desktop app, I just click Editing > Open in Desktop App and the file opens in Excel which is perfect.
However, when I got my new company laptop, whenever I open a file in SharePoint, it does still open in browser but if I click Editing > Open in Desktop App, the file is just downloaded and it doesn't open Microsoft Excel. And the browser thinks it has been opened in the app now.
I've tried searching for solutions. In Excel Options, I already have the "Link Handling" checked.
I'm getting frustrated over this already. Hope somebody can help me.

Answer 1

Hi @newgirl326 ,
I tested it in my environment and cannot reproduce your issue.
We need to do the following checks to narrow down the problem:

1. What version of Office are you using? Is it the same as the version on the previous computer?
2. Is the setting of the document library the same as before? Has something changed?
3. Have you tried switching browsers?
4. Can you provide a screenshot of the browser display after clicking "Open in app"?

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Answer 2

Hello!

1. Microsoft 365. I wasn't able to get a screenshot of my old office laptop but what I know is we've been using Microsoft 365 for years now.
2. Yes, document library settings have not been changed.
3. In Edge - when I click on "Open in app", the browser opens a new tab and just asks the same question over and over. In Chrome - when I click on "Open in app", it just downloads the file.

4. See item 3.

Answer 3

Hi @newgirl326 ,

This case is relatively complicated and I could not reproduce it, I also could not get some inspiration according to the error.

So to help you better, I suggest you can create a new service request ,and more professional will help you.

(Microsoft 365 admin center ->> Support ->> New service request)

Thanks for your understanding.

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Answer 4

Hello

For some reason, after installing the Microsoft 365 extension in Chrome (by default, I use Chrome), after trying to launch in app, it worked this time.

Answer 5

Hi @newgirl326 ,

Great to know that and thanks for sharing the update here.

By the way, since the Microsoft Q&A community has a policy that "The question author cannot accept their own answer. They can only accept answers by others.". and according to the scenario introduced here: Answering your own questions on Microsoft Q&A, I would make a brief summary of this thread:

[SharePoint file is downloaded instead when opened in Desktop App]

Issue Symptom:
I have a company laptop and we have Microsoft 365 licenses. In my previous company laptop, whenever I open a file in SharePoint, it opens in browser and then if I want it opened in Desktop app, I just click Editing > Open in Desktop App and the file opens in Excel which is perfect.

However, when I got my new company laptop, whenever I open a file in SharePoint, it does still open in browser but if I click Editing > Open in Desktop App, the file is just downloaded and it doesn't open Microsoft Excel. And the browser thinks it has been opened in the app now.

I've tried searching for solutions. In Excel Options, I already have the "Link Handling" checked.

Current status:
For some reason, after installing the Microsoft 365 extension in Chrome (by default, I use Chrome), after trying to launch in app, it worked this time.

You could click the "Accept Answer" button for this summary to close this thread, and this can make it easier for other community member's to see the useful information when reading this thread. Thanks for your understanding!