Can’t Preview Excel Files in File Explorer? Here’s How to Fix It
Are you experiencing difficulties in previewing Excel files in your file explorer? This can be quite frustrating, especially when you need to quickly glance through the contents of an Excel file without opening it. In this article, we will discuss the common reasons behind this issue and provide you with practical solutions to fix it.
1. Missing Microsoft Excel
One of the most common reasons why you can’t preview Excel files in your file explorer is that Microsoft Excel is not installed on your computer. The file explorer relies on Microsoft Excel to render Excel files in the preview pane. If you don’t have Excel installed, you won’t be able to preview Excel files.
To resolve this issue, you need to install Microsoft Excel on your computer. You can download and install Excel from the official Microsoft website or purchase a copy from a trusted retailer.
2. Incorrect File Association
Another possible reason for the inability to preview Excel files is that the file association is incorrect. File association determines which program should open a particular file type. If the file association for Excel files is not set correctly, the file explorer won’t be able to preview them.
To fix this issue, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on an Excel file and select “Open with.”
2. Choose “Choose another app” or “Choose default program.”
3. In the “How do you want to open this file?” window, scroll through the list of programs and select Microsoft Excel.
4. Check the box that says “Always use this app to open .xlsx files” (or .xls files, depending on your version of Excel).
5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
3. Outdated File Explorer
If your file explorer is outdated, it may not support the latest preview features for Excel files. To ensure that you have the latest updates, follow these steps:
1. Click on the Start button and type “Control Panel.”
2. Click on “Programs” and then “Turn Windows features on or off.”
3. Scroll down and expand the “File Explorer” option.
4. Make sure that “File preview handlers” is checked.
5. Click “OK” to save the changes and restart your computer.
4. Corrupted File Explorer
In some cases, the file explorer itself may be corrupted, which can cause issues with previewing Excel files. To fix this, try the following steps:
1. Restart your computer and log in as an administrator.
2. Press “Windows key + X” and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
3. Type the following command and press Enter: `net stop explorer`
4. Wait for a few seconds, then type the following command and press Enter: `start explorer`
5. Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
5. Third-Party Software Interference
Sometimes, third-party software can interfere with the file explorer’s ability to preview Excel files. To check for such interference, follow these steps:
1. Temporarily disable or uninstall any recently installed third-party software.
2. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
3. If the issue persists, try enabling or reinstalling the software one by one to identify the culprit.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of not being able to preview Excel files in your file explorer. If the problem still persists, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or a professional technician.
