Share via

2016 Excel opens two windows when opening file

Anonymous
2017-10-24T21:36:41+00:00

When I open an Excel file from Explorer by clicking on the file, two windows open: the spreadsheet AND a second Excel window, no spreadsheet open--just a blank Excel Window.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-19T18:57:25+00:00

    Your 'c' option fixed this issue for me.   I recently installed MySQL on my laptop and that was the COM Add-in that triggered a secondary 'blank' spreadsheet.   As soon as I unchecked 'MySQL for Excel' under COM Add-ins, I only open the spreadsheet I desired.

    Thanks

    317 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Anonymous
    2018-07-04T03:07:13+00:00

    I disabled the solver add-ins and no more second sheet (blank) : options --> Add-ins --> Manage Excel Add-ins  (bottom) --> Go...

    Unchecked Solver Add-in box and it worked.

    I may need later to re-enable the Solver Add-in but at least I have a way to disable that second annoying window. Hope this helps.

    85 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

51 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-10-25T01:23:30+00:00

    Hi Dionna,

    Please try the followings to see the result:

    a.Disable preview pane in File Explorer (open File Explorer, click View tab and make sure Preview Pane is not enabled).

    b.Navigate to C:\Users*<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART* check if there is any file and move it to other location.

    c.Open Excel and go to File tab->Options->Add-ins, Set "Manage" to "COM Add-ins" and click Go, Write down which add-ins are selected, uncheck them all, choose OK.

    Let us know if above work for you.

    Regards,

    Joanne

    83 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-10-26T09:17:06+00:00

    Hi Dionna,

    Thanks for the updated information.

    Have you checked the other options in my first post and could you let us know the outcome?

    1.Disable preview pane in File Explorer.

    2.Is there any files in this folder C:\Users&lt;username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART?

    Meanwhile, please try opening Excel and go to File tab->options->Advanced->General and make sure Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

    If it opens another blank window when you double-clicking on a file from File Explorer after trying the above, we want to confirm some information for troubleshooting:

    1.A screenshot of "2016 Excel opens two windows when opening file".

    2.Does this happen previously? If not, did you make any changes to your computer or Office before the sudden change?

    3.A full screenshot of your Excel product information page from File tab->Account.

    Regards,

    Joanne

    9 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-25T16:28:51+00:00

    thanks for your help Joanne, unfortunately that did not fix the issue. If I go direct to excel and then open a workbook then I only get one window but if I open an excel file from a saved location I get the double window. While attempting your solution there was already no add-ins selected under COM Add-ins...UGH! Others in my office are experiencing the same issue, we attempted an online repair of O365 and that did not fix it either. Thanks for trying!

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments