# How do I get my computer to open Excel files? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342 "2011-05-09T22:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/1 "2011-05-09T22:44:54Z")
This used to work, but now when I open a directory under My Computer and double click on a “.xls” file, I get an error message: Windows cannot open this file. … To open this file, Windows needs to know what program created it. … This is followed by an option to select the program from a list, but Excel is not in the list. How do I at least get Excel into that list, or better, restore the ability to double click on an Excel file and have it open? ---
**Author:** ![brk913](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/838e76/32.png) [@brk913](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brk913)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/2 "2011-05-09T23:33:35Z")
Can you open Excel from the Start Menu? If so use the File -\> Open from within the program to open your file. However, it sounds to me like Excel may not be installed on that machine. If that is the case you can try to open the files with open office or google office programs… ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/3 "2011-05-10T00:17:41Z")
Right-click on the file. Go down to the option of “Open With”. In the new dialog box, scroll down until you see the Excel program. Check the “always use this program to open this type of file”. If Excel is not an option there, you need to navigate to it in your c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office directory, then the Office 10, Office 12 or Office 14 directory depending on your version, then click on Excel.exe. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/4 "2011-05-10T00:39:48Z")
I assume you still have a spread sheet program on the machine. Try right-clicking and selecting the “open with” and telling it what program you want to [associate](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307859) with xls files. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/5 "2011-05-10T00:41:11Z")
You can also “right click” Go to properties Then on the “General” tab you’ll see an option about a quarter of the way down that says “Change” Click this Then it will give you recommended programs. If it’s not there search for where you installed Excel and choose it Then make sure the box “always use the selected program to open this type of file” is checked. Then hit apply ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-computer-to-open-excel-files/581342/6 "2011-05-10T00:52:05Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > Right-click on the file. > Go down to the option of “Open With”. > In the new dialog box, scroll down until you see the Excel program. > Check the “always use this program to open this type of file”. > > If Excel is not an option there, you need to navigate to it in your c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office directory, then the Office 10, Office 12 or Office 14 directory depending on your version, then click on Excel.exe. Hey! This one worked. Thanks! Case closed.