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Open Excel files in PWA window instead of Edge

Anonymous
2025-01-08T21:27:42+00:00

I'm trying to see if there is a way to open either a new workbook or an already existing file in the app version / PWA of say Excel or Word. When clicking to open the file it then opens in Edge rather than the 'app'. This works fine with outlook PWA, opens emails in an app window and not a browser.

My reasoning for trying to find a way to do this is about staying on current G1 licensing instead of upgrading to a G3 just for office desktop applications. Being able to open just Excel or Word by itself, self-contained, so that someone doesn't say close their browser and have to reopen a bunch of links to files they were working on. Also to give it the feel of being an application, not a shortcut. I don't like having a million tabs open in my browser, I'd rather have it separated.

Example. Office 365 PWA window on left. I click create blank workbook and it opens in Edge on the right.

Outlook PWA open on left. New mail opens also as an app window, not browser tab.

[PII masked by MSFT]

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T05:20:30+00:00

    Dear Jeff L. GSO,

    Good day! Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

    Based on your description, it seems you are trying to open Excel files from web app in PWA Windows instead of Edge.

    As per our search and testing, we regret to inform you that there is currently no built-in way to configure the Office web app to open files in PWA windows instead of Edge.

    If you're willing to check if any developed way to achieve this, we recommend reposting your question to the Microsoft Q&A Community. This is the dedicated channel for handling Office customization and development queries. You can use the Office Development tag and Office Management when asking your question. Members and engineers there are proficient in Office customization and will be able to provide specific suggestions tailored to your situation.

    We apologize for redirecting you to a different community, as members of the published category focus on general queries with Microsoft 365 and have limited knowledge about PWAs and Office integration. To get quicker and better assistance, we direct you to the right channel.

    If our understanding is not consistent with yours, please feel free to post back and clarify.

    We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Your patience and understanding are highly appreciated. Stay safe and healthy!

    Sincerely,

    Rhoda | Microsoft Community Moderator

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