Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.
I understand this situation is really disruptive, especially when Excel opens in separate instances and the workbooks can’t interact. This behavior can happen for different reasons for example, how the system loads Excel, add‑ins, or how certain files are opened and it can be difficult to control consistently.
Since you’ve already tried all the usual steps from options settings, registry changes, checking admin mode, normal opening methods and the issue still keeps happening, there isn’t a guaranteed permanent switch on the user side that forces Excel to always stay in a single shared instance.
At this point, the best path forward is to report it directly to the product team through Excel:
Excel > Help > Feedback > Report a problem
Or use the Feedback Hub app in Windows (built into Windows):
- Press Windows key + F or search for Feedback Hub in the Start menu.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Click Report a Problem
- Add screenshots if possible.
For more details, please refer to: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app
Submitting feedback will provide the engineering team with logs and environment details so they can understand what you’re experiencing. If others encounter the same behavior, they can also upvote your report, which helps increase visibility.
I know it’s not the quick fix you were hoping for, but I hope this gives the best path forward for your situation.
As forum moderators, we are not directly involved in product design decisions and do not have access to the development roadmap. However, we want to assure you that your feedback has been acknowledged and is truly valued.
I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
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