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How to set default template in Excel

Thomas Nielsen 141 Reputation points
2022-03-13T17:36:30.673+00:00

Hi

I have a task where I need to set a default Office Template for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Word and PowerPoint was easy enough, but Excel, am I struggling with. I have created a template file named book.xltx and put it in **%appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART**

This issue is that when I select a Blank workbook in Excel it doesn't use this template. If I instead use Ctrl + N for a new document I can see on the font I have selected that this way it is using my template. Why is click new document with the mouse and using Ctrl + N keyboard shortcut not giving the same result?

Is there a way to fix this?

Excel Management
Excel Management
Excel: A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Emi Zhang-MSFT 26,681 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-03-14T06:14:24.377+00:00

    Hi @Thomas Nielsen ,
    I tested your problem, I save the Book1.xltx in the location: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART
    Then I open the Excel and create the New Workbook by 1. click New option, 2. Ctrl + N to open the new Workbook, neither of these two methods can open the custom template.
    In Excel, if you want to open the template you should save the template file to template folder:
    C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\Custom Office Templates
    If you set the custom template folder, you can open the template from Personal Template tab:
    182628-92.png
    What version of Office are you using?
    Could you provide more information about your problem? You can upload a screenshot so that I can get more accurate solutions to this problem. I’m glad to help and follow up your reply.

    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

  2. Thomas Nielsen 141 Reputation points
    2022-03-14T08:10:52.843+00:00

    Hi

    Thanks for the information you shared. I am running Office 365 Excel version 2108.

    I have found a way to make it work the way I wanted. I have set the "Disable the Office Start Screen for Excel" option via a GPO. Now Excel starts up directly in my template. It is also possible to do via Options -> General

    182733-excel-startup.png

    Best Regards
    Thomas
    https://techthatworks.net

  3. anthony 1 Reputation point
    2022-10-18T14:39:15.877+00:00

    Hey Guys

    Can you please elaborate on how to

    "Disable the Office Start Screen for Excel" option via a GPO"

    Many thanks

    Microsoft platform is often a time waster and difficult to configure.

    FYI

    I am running:
    Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2209 Build 16.0.15629.20200) 64-bit
    on PC with subscription to --> Windows 10 Home

    I have already saved my desired default Excel template named "book1.xltx" in folder:
    Office-PC/Local Disk (C:) / Users/ Anthony / AppData / Roaming / Microsoft / Excel / XLSTART

    I want to use this template every time I click "Blank Workbook" under NEW when I start the Excel application!

    How hard can this be (Microsoft ???)

    Thanks

    Anthony

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