Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 11, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Kaye has deleted every XLStart file she can find, but an Excel workbook that she no longer wants to load automatically just won't go away. (She wants to keep the document in her forms directory, but she doesn't want it to autoload.) She is wondering what else she can do to stop the autoload.
Excel has the capability to actually load files, automatically, from a couple of locations. One of those locations was already checked by Kaye—the XLStart folder. Anything in this folder is automatically opened (or attempted to be opened) by Excel.
There is another, alternative location maintained by Excel, however. Follow these steps to find out what the location is:
Figure 1. The general section of the advanced Excel Options.
It is important to realize that if a folder path is specified in the "At Startup, Open All Files In" box, then that folder is treated just as Excel treats the XLStart folder—it attempts to open everything in the folder. If you don't delete the path, then you should at least note its location so you can check to see what is in the folder and remove any files from it that you don't want opened.
Don't forget that the unwanted workbook—the one that is opening automatically—could be opened by a workbook you do wanted opened. For instance, let's say that you want Excel to open a workbook called MyDailyWork.xlsm, so it is located in either the XLStart folder or the alternative auto-open folder. If MyDailyWork.xlsm includes an auto-open macro, that macro might be opening other workbooks. The way to check for this is to examine any such workbooks and see if they have any auto-open macros, modifying them as necessary.
Finally, it is also possible that you have an add-in that is loading when Excel starts, and that add-in is, in turn, opening the workbook you don't want opened. Check your add-ins to see if they make sense to you and that they are doing what you expect.
You can find additional helpful information at this page in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
https://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826922
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12690) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
If you have two workbooks that each have the same name, opening them at the same time in Excel could cause some problems. ...
Discover MoreWhen you need to work on a workbook, you may want to do so without modifying the original contents of the workbook. This ...
Discover MoreYou can create a default template for both your workbooks and worksheets. These should be placed in the XLSTART folder, ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments