excel error: this file type is not supported in protected view

Question

Hi,

I've not made any changes to Excel but have recently started getting the following error message:

I tried using the Office Quick and Online Repairs but this didn't help.

Can someone please tell me how to fix this.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Rory's fix worked for me. To expand on it a bit:

1. Start Excel.
2. Click Options at the bottom LHS:
   
3. Click Add-ins:
   
4. Go through the list of Active Application Add-ins, and for each one use Explorer to find the file listed in the add-in's location. Right-click->Properties on the file when you've found it, and at the bottom of the Properties dialog box check Unblock and then OK the dialog box. Repeat for every add-in.
   

Answer 2

Hi AndrewG123456,

I’m Jung one of the Independent Advisor and I’d be happy to help you out with your question.

Based on your description, there have some specific Excel files that would get the error message as the following screenshot. May I know if the issue files are related with Outlook? Anyway, have a try with following suggestions to fix the issue.

1.Run the Office Repair Tool.

Press Win+R and type Conrtol Panel in the window

Click uninstall a program under Programs tab

Select the Office version you have installed and click Change button on the top bar

Leave the Quick Repair option selected and click Repair

Check the result after the repair process is completed by opening the issue file in Excel to see if everything back to normal. If the issue persists, try the Online Repair option again.

2.Disable Protected View

Open Excel and click the Options in the bottom-left corner.

Click on Trust Center and click Trust Center Settings

Switch to the Protected View tab and uncheck all options.

Then click OK to save the changes, and check if the issue disappear when opening the files again. But this is only a workaround currently and make sure all files are safe and have a strong antivirus installed on the local PC.

3.Rename the file and change the file type.

May I know if these issue files have been downloaded on the local PC? If so, please check if their file type is .xlsx as the newer Excel format if you are using the latest version of Excel. After opening the file with the workaround you discovered, click File and click Save a Copy. Select the location as you want(local PC is recommended but OneDrive is also good) and rename the file and select another file type.

If the issue persists after trying above suggestions, please share us the current version of Excel on your side so that we could offer some other appreciate support based on your scenario. Open Excel > click File > click Account and share the screenshot here.

You may check this thread for more details:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/error-message-file-couldnt-open-in-protected-view/c5693143-b353-41b5-b5e9-581090613d55

Kindly check this links as well for the other troubleshooting steps that you can try:
https://www.technipages.com/excel-this-file-couldnt-open-in-protected-view

https://www.exceldemy.com/excel-protected-view-editing-this-file-type-is-not-allowed/#:~:text=%E2%9D%B9%20Go%20to%20the%20Protected,from%20the%20Protected%20View%20section.&text=Disabling%20this%20option%20allows%20Excel%20to%20open%20files%20downloaded%20from%20the%20internet.&text=Unchecking%20this%20option%20allows%20Excel%20to%20open%20files%20saved%20in%20any%20location.

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

I hope this information helps. If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll be glad to assist you further.

Best regards,
Jung

Answer 3

OP, It's not just you. I suspect MS has done something.

It happens when I open Excel from the Taskbar without opening an existing file.

Answer 4

Same issue Here.

It started in the Insider previews. I dropped out of the Insider Previews and the problem went away as soon as I installed the regular build. Then Microsoft said they fixed it. Installed the Insider preview again and had the problem again. went back to the stable build and hadn't the issue but now it looks like they have pushed the build with the problem to the stable build. I don't even have to be opening a worksheet file in order to get the message, just opening the Main Excel application, I get the warning. However, all my files open fine after hitting ok on the warning and I'm able to do anything I need with the file one it is open.

Answer 5

Really bad advice Disabling Protected view! This is a bug with the current build of Excel. It started in the Insider Previews and now has been pushed to Stable versions. You don't even need to open a worksheet to get the error message. Just opening the main Excel application from the Start Menu will cause the warning.