How to force files open in client application for direct editing instead of downloading in SharePoint 2019?

Question

Greetings!

We have recently upgraded from SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2019 . We use SharePoint only as document repository. After migration, when the files (.docx, .xlsx etc.) are accessed using their URLs, they get downloaded instead of opening in the client application for direct editing.

If the files are accessed using SharePoint directory browsing, they get opened in client applications (MS Word, Excel etc.) without any issues.

But when the files are accessed using a URL, it downloads. That is, if the URL is directly pasted on to a browser or added as a hyper link in Azure DevOps work item and clicked on.

They used to open in client applications without any issue when they were stored in SharePoint 2013 as well as 2016 repos. But in 2019 version, the issue occurs.

I tried the following fixes but to no avail.

1.

"In SharePoint Central Administration, navigate to: Application Management > Manage Web Applications > [Web Application] > General Settings.

In the Browser File Handling section, choose Permissive. Users now have the option to open a file as well as save it."

1.

SharePoint Settings>Site collection features>and activate Open Documents in Client Applications by Default.

1.

Document Library >> Settings >> Library Settings >> General Settings

"Advanced Settings" >> "Opening Documents in the Browser" section,

Select: "Open in the client application"

Even after applying all these changes, the files are still downloading instead of opening.

Is there any other fix for this issue?

Thank you very much for your time!

Answer 1

Hi - with some digging and assistance from Microsoft we found that some registry settings need to be in place to support opening the SharePoint Office document (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) instead of downloading.

Here are the registry locations and the entries:

For some reason, the machine's registry loses the "UseURL" string entry for Office applications, forcing the download of the document instead of maintaining a connection to the document in SharePoint:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\excel.exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\powerpnt.exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Winword.exe

Optional if Visio installed:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\visio.exe

To maintain the link with the SharePoint document, make sure the above registry keys have the following entries:

• (Default) REG_SZ value: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\Office16_application executable name_
• Path REG_SZ value: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\Office16\
• SaveURL REG_SZ value: 1
• UseURL REG_SZ value: 1

This solution has worked for us - hope it helps.

Cheers,

Andy

Answer 2

Hi @Paulson P,

Apologize for the late reply.

I have tried other methods in my test environment and none of them work. SharePoint 2019 is very different from SharePoint 2016 in this regard. We couldn't find any other way to resolve your issue on the forum. Therefore, I would suggest you to open a ticket.

Please accept my sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your kind understanding.

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Answer 3

Hi @Paulson P,

You can try to add "?web=1" to the end of the URL.

For example, http://sharepointserver/Shared%20Documents/DateTest.docx?web=1.

Reference: A SharePoint file is downloaded instead of opening the Office application with a direct connection to it.

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