Problem Opening Excel File After Windows Update to 24H2

Question

Good evening.

I have a PC with Windows 11 Pro and Office Professional Plus 2013.

After updating Windows to version 24H2 (KB5048667 update) I can no longer open Excel files via "double click", the only way to open them is to start Excel and open the files from the FILE menu.

I have already done the Office recovery (both the quick one and the online one) but without any resolution of the problem.

In Windows Update I do not have (or cannot find) the possibility to uninstall the 24H2 update.

I would like to understand if it is a common problem or just mine and if there is a resolution.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Recently there have been several users post about the problem that Excel 2016 or 2013 can't be double-clicked to open after updating Windows, here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Check File Associations: Ensure that Excel is set as the default program for opening .xlsx files. You can do this by right-clicking on an Excel file, selecting "Open with," and then choosing Excel. Make sure to check the box that says, "Always use this app to open .xlsx files."

Repair Office Installation: Although you've already tried the Office recovery, you might want to try repairing the Office installation again through the Control Panel. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select Office Professional Plus 2013, and then click on "Change" and choose "Repair."

Update Office: Make sure that Office Professional Plus 2013 is fully updated. Sometimes, compatibility issues can be resolved with the latest updates.

Reinstall Office: If the above steps do not work, you might consider uninstalling and then reinstalling Office Professional Plus 2013.

You can try to give a feedback to Microsoft about this problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

Your feedback goes directly to our engineers and helps us shape the future of Microsoft products and services for all our users.

As a workaround, you can open a blank Workbook and open from File- Open.

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Answer 2

Good evening, all the suggested checks have been performed but without success.

• File Association: Check OK
• Repair Office installation: Done
• Update Office: Done, current version 15.0.5603.1000
• Uninstall and reinstall Office Professional Plus 2013: Done

The problem of not opening Excel files via "double Click" persists.

For now I continue to start Excel and open the files from the "FILE" menu, let's hope that with a next update of Windows 11 the problem will be solved.

Thanks