Where is Excel in W10? Why can I NOT set it as default app for a specific file?

Question

Hello,

Why is everything so difficult and why is Microsoft trying to force me to use something, or trying to prevent me from using something?

I want to set up Excel as the default app for .xml files.

Cannot be done.

Excel will not show up as an option and it cannot be found in the computer. It's hidden....

Is there a way to find it even though Microsoft doesn't want me to?

Thank you.

Answer 1

But you can open them with Excel, so why wouldn't Microsoft allow me to associate any file type with any app, as long as said app is capable of opening a/the particular file type?

Answer 2

See possible fixes here:

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1371900-...

https://www.howtoexcel.org/power-query/import-x...

https://www.wikihow.com/Convert-XML-to-Excel

Answer 3

Thanks Greg but it does not answer my question about association a file type. Clearly I can open Excel then click Open and navigate to my .xml file. That's not what I am trying to do. I just don't understand why is it impossible to navigate to the Excel.exe (or whatever it is called now days when everything is hidden) and associate the file type with Excel. It's simple, should be simple, not sure why MS decided to prohibit us from doing so.

Answer 4

Have you tried right clicking on an .xml file, choose Properties, then next to Opens With: app click Change, browse to Excel, choose it, if offered tick the box to Always open this file type with this app.

This is another way to establish default which sometimes works better.

Answer 5

I have office 365 installed.

If so, then navigate to:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE