Excel sometimes opens in multiple instances

Question

I have noticed that recently (from about 6 months ago) Excel has started to occasionally open workbooks in separate instances of Excel. I cannot see any trend to when it does or doesn't, but when it does I can tell as I have another workbook that opens on every instance, and so that causes an error.

This is also a problem as you can't do many cross-workbook functions, like, copying sheets, using a formula across workbooks,...

I feel like this may have started happening when there was the update that (as well as other things) allowed you to view the same instance of Excel, but different workbooks on different screens. But this may be just coincidence or not quite the same time, but feel like it could be. Ignore if doesn't make sense, just maybe a steer in the right direction.

Also, this is not just me, the guy next to me also has this, and I think it would be everyone in my company. So maybe something relating to our computer set up, but wondering if anyone else has this as well, or knows a workaround.

Thanks,

Benji

Answer 1

Hi,

I'm Diego Rios, an Independent Advisor willing to help other Microsoft customers.

You can try the following procedures:

Try working with the Word Safe mode and check if it helps.

Hold the windows key + Letter ‘R’ on the keyboard to launch the Run command > Copy and paste the following command line in the open box and click Ok.

For Excel: Type excel /safe, and click OK.

For Outlook: Type outlook /safe, and click OK.

For Word: Type winword /safe, and click OK.

For PowerPoint: Type powerpnt /safe, and click OK.

For Publisher: Type mspub /safe, and click OK.

For Visio: Type visio /safe, and click OK.

If, word works properly do you need to disable add-ins:

Go into Word / Excel/ PW:

Click on File menu.

Click Options.

Click Add-ins.

Click on Go button besides Manage: Com-Add-in.

Check if there are add-ins listed, clear the checkbox to disable them.

Close the Word and restart it.

In the link below explain how disable add-in:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/view-m...

If, the procedures above didn't work, I refer to repair Office in the following link for more information:

Go to Control Panel >> Add and Remove Programs and highlight Microsoft Office. Click on Remove. A menu will pop up allowing you to choose repair or reinstall. Try a Repair Online and verified after repair it fix.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/re...

Please let me know if this helped and works.

Best Regards,

Diego R.