file opening challenge

If Excel file opening fails or opens incorrectly, use this order:

1. Try a Quick Repair for Office:
   • Select Start.
   • Type Control Panel and open it.
   • Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
   • Select the Office product.
   • Choose Change.
   • Select Quick Repair > Repair.
2. If the file opens to a blank Excel screen instead of the workbook:
   • Try an Online Repair of Office by following the steps in Repair an Office application.
3. Reset the file association for the Excel file:
   • Find the file.
   • Right-click it and select Properties.
   • On the General tab, check Opens with.
   • Select Change.
   • Choose Excel.
   • Select Always use this app.
   • Select OK.
4. If Excel opens but stays blank, check add-ins:
   • In Excel, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
   • At the bottom, in Manage, select COM Add-Ins > Go.
   • Clear one add-in, select OK, and restart Excel.
   • Repeat one at a time to find the add-in causing the problem.
   • Then repeat the same process for Excel Add-Ins.
5. If multiple Office versions are installed:
   • Open Control Panel.
   • Go to Uninstall a program.
   • Remove the Office versions not needed.
   • Restart the computer.
6. Workaround:
   • Open Excel first.
   • Select File > Open.
   • Browse to the workbook and open it from inside Excel.

If the problem is specifically that double-clicking the file opens a blank screen, hidden sheets can also be the cause:

• In Excel, go to View > Unhide.
• Select the workbook and choose OK.

References

• Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it in the correct Office program
• Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel
• Excel opens to a blank screen