Trying to open Excel online apps, but Edge just downloads them.

Question

Trying to open Excel online apps, but Edge just downloads them.

Anonymous

I've come across a weird issue that I wasn't able to solve.
One of my users has a Dell Optiplex with a M365-F3 license for Office online.
Files are by default stored in OneDrive.
Whenever he tries to open a file on his desktop into Office online, Edge just downloads it, but doesn't open it.
I'm having trouble understanding why it happens.
The option 'Open Office files in browser' is turned on.
Also, I cleared the cache and reset the browser.
Haven't tried a reinstall but I started installing a new device for the user, and it encounters the same problem.
Googling the issue wasn't helpful so maybe, just maybe Microsoft themselves can help.

If you need more info lmk

Anonymous

2023-06-15T05:56:00.67+00:00
Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

According to your description, I cannot reproduce your problem. I tried to upload the excel file to OneDrive, and it can be opened normally in Edge 114.0.1823.43 in Win 11. If possible, please provide the following information:

Can you open the sample Excel file from the public site?

What is the operating system and browser version?
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:53:44.7433333+00:00

Hello, I tried and it opens if you go to Office.com directly and find the file in the list. That is a workaround, but not a great one.

I took a few screenshots for you, I'll upload them. Hopefully you can see the problem.

The answer to the final question is Windows 11 22H2. The browser version is in the screenshots.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:54:47.8566667+00:00

I used a test file called logistieke issues. Next messages will show what happens and the workaround.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:55:28.8566667+00:00

Excel online workaround 1
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:58:16.5666667+00:00

Excel Online workaround 2.

As you can see, it opens normally if you got to Excel online and find the file there. But when trying to open the file from the desktop, the following thing happens:
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:59:15.81+00:00

As you can see, it's an XLSX file.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:00:53.66+00:00

When you double click it on the desktop, it wants to download. The next message is what happens when you press open.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:04:12.4833333+00:00

Just shows up again, and again, and again and again and again.

The user wants to open these files from his desktop for the convenience. This works for almost all different users.

I already prepared a new system for him, which is the system i've been using for testing.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:05:14.1766667+00:00

AThe option 'Open Office files in browser' has been turned on the entire time.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:07:12.0333333+00:00

I tried turning off the 'Ask what has to happen to downloads' option and it just downloaded the file.

1 answer

Your answer

Anonymous

2023-06-15T05:56:00.67+00:00

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

According to your description, I cannot reproduce your problem. I tried to upload the excel file to OneDrive, and it can be opened normally in Edge 114.0.1823.43 in Win 11. If possible, please provide the following information:

Can you open the sample Excel file from the public site?

What is the operating system and browser version?
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:53:44.7433333+00:00

Hello, I tried and it opens if you go to Office.com directly and find the file in the list. That is a workaround, but not a great one.

I took a few screenshots for you, I'll upload them. Hopefully you can see the problem.

The answer to the final question is Windows 11 22H2. The browser version is in the screenshots.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:54:47.8566667+00:00

I used a test file called logistieke issues. Next messages will show what happens and the workaround.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:55:28.8566667+00:00

Excel online workaround 1
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:58:16.5666667+00:00

Excel Online workaround 2.

As you can see, it opens normally if you got to Excel online and find the file there. But when trying to open the file from the desktop, the following thing happens:
Anonymous

2023-06-15T06:59:15.81+00:00

As you can see, it's an XLSX file.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:00:53.66+00:00

When you double click it on the desktop, it wants to download. The next message is what happens when you press open.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:04:12.4833333+00:00

Just shows up again, and again, and again and again and again.

The user wants to open these files from his desktop for the convenience. This works for almost all different users.

I already prepared a new system for him, which is the system i've been using for testing.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:05:14.1766667+00:00

AThe option 'Open Office files in browser' has been turned on the entire time.
Anonymous

2023-06-15T07:07:12.0333333+00:00

I tried turning off the 'Ask what has to happen to downloads' option and it just downloaded the file.

Answer 1

Anonymous

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

Okay, I think I have understood your question. You use Edge as the default way to open Excel files, but you can't open them in Office online, right?

As far as I know, Office online cannot open local files on the machine. As the name implies, you need to publish it as a resource on an accessible online site/app (such as the already mentioned OneDrive) for it to open instead of download.

And the local file does not meet such conditions, what you can do is to create a shortcut for the Excel file, and modify its Target property, and open it with Microsoft Edge to make it open as a WebApp, which will meet your needs. Something like this:

create shortcut for Excel file:
Get Online file link(src property of Embed html element):
Modify the Targe of shortcut(example below):

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=xxx&resid=xxx&authkey=xxx&em=x

Best regards,

Xudong Peng

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Anonymous

2023-06-15T10:19:59.41+00:00

Appreciated, but unfortunately these files aren't local. I just disconnected and connect his Onedrive again for a test, but the files can not be opened by double clicking them. However, if you right click the file, choose OneDrive and then 'Show online' it works fine.
Anonymous

2023-06-16T09:07:07.6566667+00:00

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

Does it mean this can only work via this option below? If this is the case, I tried but it works fine. Please try to clear cache in Edge, if this still not work, then I think there is something wrong with OneDrive.
Anonymous

2023-06-19T06:48:35.9166667+00:00

Hello @Anonymous ! Clearing the cache did not work. I'm thinking OneDrive too, now that you say it. Do you have a suggestion? A reinstall might not work due to it happening on multiple devices.
Anonymous

2023-06-19T08:25:49.1466667+00:00

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

Unfortunately, I don't know much about OneDrive. So I'm afraid I don't have good suggestion for this, and I found that this issue occurs after you connecting to someone else's OneDrive account. How about switch to another account?
Anonymous

2023-06-19T09:03:36.1233333+00:00

Hello!

I will keep you updated. I will try this.
Anonymous

2023-06-20T07:21:43.16+00:00

Hello @Anonymous ! Unfortunately on his domain account/Windows profile it did nothing when I signed in to Onedrive with my account. It still wanted to download.

I did the following that might give a little bit more info:

Signed in to my own domain account

Signed into my own OneDrive

Files were still unable to be opened but the difference is that it asks for a default program.

My own domain account has an E3 license

The user with the issue has an F3 license. Could that be a reason?

Should I try to install Office and see if it works that way ? Maybe it redirects to office.com ? I really have no clue anymore, haha.
Anonymous

2023-06-20T09:10:45.3466667+00:00

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

This looks strange, from OneDrive it should open a new page to open the excel file in Office Online. Instead of this popup asking you to choose a default program, it seems to me that you are trying to open a local Excel file, not from OneDrive.
Anonymous

2023-06-20T10:44:55.3933333+00:00

Would it help if I made a local backup of the files and then cleared out his entire personal OneDrive folder.. Maybe there's a conflict somewhere, I saw multiple of the same folders in his backup (IE, 3 times the desktop folder)
Anonymous

2023-06-21T02:22:21.11+00:00

Hi @Jari van Dorsselaer,

Since I can't reproduce the problem, I'm afraid I can't give good advice. I hope there will be experts related to OneDrive who can help you.
Anonymous

2023-06-22T09:29:54.2366667+00:00

Is it possible for you to point me in the direction of an expert? You're from MS, right? Surely there will be an expert on this forum.
Anonymous

2023-06-23T10:02:07.72+00:00

Hi @

In this case, I suggest that you can open a support ticket (create a support request) so that you can get more help. Thanks for your understanding.

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Trying to open Excel online apps, but Edge just downloads them.

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