How to Open Excel Files: Complete Beginner's Tutorial

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In-depth guide for opening Excel files on your PC or phone
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This wikiHow teaches you how to open an Excel file and view the spreadsheet file's contents. You can use a desktop spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel, a web-based spreadsheet viewer like Google Sheets, or the mobile Excel app to open, view, and edit Excel spreadsheets on any computer, phone, or tablet.

How to Open .XLSX (Excel) Files

To open Excel files on desktop, right-click (or control-click) the file. Select Open with and select Excel or another similar app. Alternatively, log into Microsoft Excel Online and select Upload a file to upload and view your .XLSX file.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Excel on Desktop

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  1. Find the spreadsheet file on your computer, and right-click on its name or icon to see your options in a drop-down menu.
    • If you're using a Mac, you can control-click the Excel file.
  2. A list of available apps will pop up in a sub-menu.
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  3. This will launch Excel on your computer and open the selected file. If you're using a Mac and you don't have Excel, you can open .XLSX files using the built-in application, Numbers.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Excel Online

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  1. Open Microsoft Excel Online in your internet browser. If prompted, enter your Microsoft login information and log in. [1]
    • You can use Excel online in any desktop or mobile internet browser.
  2. This will be next to the green "Create blank workbook" button. It will open your file navigator and allow you to select a file from your computer.
  3. Find your spreadsheet file in the file navigator window, and click on its name or icon to select it.
  4. This button is in the bottom-right corner of the file navigator pop-up. It will upload your spreadsheet file and open it in Excel Online.
    • You can view and edit your file in your internet browser.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Google Sheets

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  1. Open Google Sheets in your internet browser. If you're not automatically signed in, log in with your Google account.
    • You can use Google Sheets in any desktop or mobile internet browser.
  2. You can find this button in the upper-right corner of your spreadsheet list, next to the AZ button. It will open the "Open a file" window in a pop-up.
  3. You can find it on a tab bar below the "Upload a file" heading in the pop-up. This will allow you to open any Excel file from your computer.
    • Alternatively, you can click the My Drive tab and open a file from your Google Drive library.
  4. When you're in the Upload tab, you can just drag and drop any spreadsheet file from your computer here.
    • This will upload your Excel file to Google Sheets and open it in your internet browser.
    • Alternatively, click the blue Select a file from your device button, and select your file manually.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using the Mobile App

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  1. The Excel icon looks like a green-and-white "X" and a spreadsheet icon.
    • Excel is available for iPhone and iPad in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store.
    • Log in to your Microsoft account if you haven't already. You must have an account to use the mobile app.
  2. This button looks like a folder icon on a navigation bar. It will open your available file sources.
    • On iPhone, it's in the lower-right corner of your screen.
    • On Android, it's in the upper-left corner of your screen.
  3. Selecting a source here will open all the files saved to this location.
    • If you're opening a file saved to your phone or tablet's local storage, select This Device or On My iPhone / iPad here.
  4. Tapping a file will open it in the Excel mobile app.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-is-excel-94b00f50-5896-479c-b0c5-ff74603b35a3

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Find and right-click the file.
      2. Hover over Open with .
      3. Select Microsoft Excel .

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