How to set default template in Excel

Question

Hi

I have a task where I need to set a default Office Template for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Word and PowerPoint was easy enough, but Excel, am I struggling with. I have created a template file named book.xltx and put it in **%appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART**

This issue is that when I select a Blank workbook in Excel it doesn't use this template. If I instead use Ctrl + N for a new document I can see on the font I have selected that this way it is using my template. Why is click new document with the mouse and using Ctrl + N keyboard shortcut not giving the same result?

Is there a way to fix this?

Answer 1

Hi @Thomas Nielsen ,
I tested your problem, I save the Book1.xltx in the location: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART
Then I open the Excel and create the New Workbook by 1. click New option, 2. Ctrl + N to open the new Workbook, neither of these two methods can open the custom template.
In Excel, if you want to open the template you should save the template file to template folder:
C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\Custom Office Templates
If you set the custom template folder, you can open the template from Personal Template tab:

What version of Office are you using?
Could you provide more information about your problem? You can upload a screenshot so that I can get more accurate solutions to this problem. I’m glad to help and follow up your reply.

---

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Hi

Thanks for the information you shared. I am running Office 365 Excel version 2108.

I have found a way to make it work the way I wanted. I have set the "Disable the Office Start Screen for Excel" option via a GPO. Now Excel starts up directly in my template. It is also possible to do via Options -> General

Best Regards
Thomas
https://techthatworks.net

Answer 3

Hey Guys

Can you please elaborate on how to

"Disable the Office Start Screen for Excel" option via a GPO"

Many thanks

Microsoft platform is often a time waster and difficult to configure.

FYI

I am running:
Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2209 Build 16.0.15629.20200) 64-bit
on PC with subscription to --> Windows 10 Home

I have already saved my desired default Excel template named "book1.xltx" in folder:
Office-PC/Local Disk (C:) / Users/ Anthony / AppData / Roaming / Microsoft / Excel / XLSTART

I want to use this template every time I click "Blank Workbook" under NEW when I start the Excel application!

How hard can this be (Microsoft ???)

Thanks

Anthony