Default Local File Location

Question

I've just loaded Office 365 to replace Office 2013 on my computer. I keep having a problem with Excel not opening the correct directory. I have my Default Local File Location set to the directory/folder that I use the most which is C:\Users<username>\Documents<username>. The Auto Recovery File Location is set at C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel. When I go to open a file, it brings me up a list of recent files. But if I click either the "This PC" or "Browse" button, it takes me to the folder under C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART and then I have to change the path. What else do I need to change besides the Default Local File Location to get Excel to point to the path that I want it to go to.

Crazy thing is if I have two copies of Excel running, the first copy behaves in the manner I described above and the second copy points to the path that I want it to point to at C:\Users<username>\Documents<username>. This is a single user machine. I am beyond baffled why one copy takes me to a path where I don't want to be and another copy takes me exactly where I want to be. Word and Publisher are working file, why not Excel? Help!

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Answer 1

Hello, Eric M Larson

Welcome to Microsoft Community.   

I realize that you have encountered a problem that although you have already changed the default local file location and the auto-recovery file location in Options, clicking "This PC" or "Browse" still takes you to the wrong folder. I understand how you feel. 

Based on your description, it is possible that you installed Microsoft 365 without completely uninstalling Office 2013. This residual Office 2013 is affecting the settings of your default local file location.

You need to first confirm whether both Office 2013 and Microsoft 365 software coexist on your computer.

Right-click on Windows and select "Installed apps." Check for corresponding entries in the App list.

If you see Office 2013 and Microsoft 365, then you need to uninstall Office 2013.

Feel free to post back if you need further assistance. Let's take it step by step.  

Best wishes, 

Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

I did not even think to uninstall Office 2013 before loading Office 365. However when I went to start Office 365, I noticed that Office 2013 was no longer installed on my computer because I wanted to make sure I started the correct version. After several attempts at being able to properly set the default file location in Office 365 - Excel (Office 365 - Word and Office 365 - Publisher have the correct default file location), I uninstalled Office 365 and started over with a new installation after verifying that Office 365 had indeed uninstalled and that Office 2013 no longer existed on the computer.

The crazy thing is, even though my copy of Office 365 - Excel has the default file location defined as C:\Users\Eric\Documents\Eric when starting Excel and then using the "This PC" or "Browse" option, the path for the file location shows as C:\Users\Eric\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. Granted, I can use the mouse to adjust the path, but if you're going to do that why have a "default file location"? Interestingly if you start a second copy of Office 365 - Excel, the default file location shows as Documents\Eric which is what I want.

I'm beyond confused about what I need to have in order to get the default file location set to C:\Users\Eric\Documents\Eric. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 3

Hi, Office 2013 and any other perpetual version should be uninstalled when installing Microsoft 365, they will not run properly together. Install and use different versions of Office on the same PC - Microsoft Support "If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or non-subscription version such as Office Home and Business 2021, 2019, or 2016, in most cases you can't run these versions together on the same computer."

Answer 4

The install of Office 365 never mentioned uninstalling Office 2013. Needless to say, I never did an install of Office 2013 before starting the install of Office 365. When the install of Office 365 completed, the start menu showed me that none of the Office 2013 programs remained. I've already uninstalled Office 365 and reinstalled it hoping to gain access to default local file location. What do you sugges trying next?

Answer 5

Eric, I am not sure where you are with this. particularly with two file locations. What you do have set as at>Open Word>file>Options>Save>Default local file location (note AutoSave files stored in the cloud by Word. My files are stored on D Drive)

Also: Change the location of your OneDrive folder - Microsoft Support The default location for OneDrive on a Windows computer is C:\Users<username>\OneDrive