{"id":61096,"date":"2020-07-16T03:53:42","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T03:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=61096"},"modified":"2025-11-03T16:51:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:51:30","slug":"excel-2016-wont-open-xls-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/excel-2016-wont-open-xls-files\/","title":{"rendered":"[Resolved] Excel 2016 Won&#8217;t Open XLS Files: Fixing Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>XLS is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file format, used by Excel 2003 and earlier versions. From Excel 2007 and later, a new XLSX format was introduced by Microsoft that is much secure and better at storing data.<\/p><p>Since XLS is an older Excel file extension, you may experience errors while opening the XLS files in Excel 2016, such as, &ldquo;<em>Excel cannot open the file .xls because the file format or file extension is not valid.&rdquo;<\/em><\/p><p>Excel 2016 won&rsquo;t open XLS files due to compatibility issues, which is a common problem. It usually occurs after upgrading the MS Office or Windows OS. However, this problem may also occur even after a minor MS Office or Windows update.<\/p><p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>NOTE:<\/strong> XLS file may also won&rsquo;t open if it&rsquo;s corrupt or damaged. If the XLS\/XLSX file was opening earlier but does not open anymore, it indicates corruption. In such a case, you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/repair-excel-file.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Excel Repair software<\/a> from Stellar&reg;. The software is free to download and lets you scan the damaged XLS file. If it&rsquo;s corrupt, the software repairs it and previews the data stored in the XLS file. You can then save this XLS file in a new XLS file and open it in MS Excel 2016 without any issue. Watch this video to know more,<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Repair Excel File with Stellar Repair for Excel Software\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VAeGzHnETu0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>Fortunately, there are many fixes and troubleshooting methods that you can follow to fix this issue and open the XLS files in Excel 2016.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methods-to-open-xls-files-in-ms-excel-2016\">Methods to Open XLS Files in MS Excel 2016<\/h2><p>Follow these methods in the given order of sequence to resolve &lsquo;Excel 2016 won&rsquo;t open XLS files&rsquo; issue and open the XLS files in Excel 2016.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-1-open-xls-file-from-ms-excel-2016\">Method 1: Open XLS File from MS Excel 2016<\/h3><p>Instead of opening XLS file by double-click, open the MS Excel 2016 first and then,<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <em>File&gt;Open&gt;Browse<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to the XLS file that won&rsquo;t open in Excel 2016<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-4-1024x540.jpg\" alt=\"Open XLS file via MS Excel File options\" class=\"wp-image-61098 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-4-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-4-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-4-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-4.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select it and click &lsquo;<em>Open&rsquo;<\/em>. This should open the XLS file without any issue<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>If it doesn&rsquo;t, follow the next method.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-2-manually-open-the-xls-file-by-using-the-excel-exe-program-file\">Method 2: Manually Open the XLS File by using the EXCEL.EXE Program File<\/h3><p>This method has worked for many users when their Excel 2016 can&rsquo;t open the XLS files in Windows 10. Steps are as follows,<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Right-click on the file with the .xls extension that won&rsquo;t open in Excel 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong><em>Open with<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;from the options and then click on&nbsp;<strong><em>Choose another app. <\/em><\/strong>This opens a dialogue box<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click &lsquo;<strong>More Apps<\/strong>&rsquo; from&nbsp;<strong>&ldquo;How do you want to open this file?&rdquo;<\/strong>&nbsp;options<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"392\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/2.jpg\" alt=\"Set MS Excel as Default Program for XLS\" class=\"wp-image-61099 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/2.jpg 392w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Then click &lsquo;Look for another app on this PC&rsquo;. This opens a File Explorer window<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"392\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/3-1.png\" alt=\"Choose MS Excel App as Default Application for XLS files\" class=\"wp-image-61100 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/3-1.png 392w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/3-1-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigate to&nbsp;<strong><em>EXCEL.EXE<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;location which is usually located at,<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>C: Program Files (x86) &gt; Microsoft Office &gt; root &gt; Office 16 &gt; EXCEL.EXE<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click on EXCEL.EXE file and click &lsquo;Open&rsquo;. Your .xls file should open right up<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>From now onwards, all .XLS files will get associated with Excel 2016, including the new .XLS files that you move, download or copy to your system. In short, Excel 2016 will become the default app to open .XLS files in your system.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-3-edit-microsoft-trust-center-settings\">Method 3: Edit Microsoft Trust Center Settings<\/h3><p>Trust Center is an option in MS Excel that contains the privacy and security settings for MS Office programs. It helps keep system secure. However, by changing certain settings in Trust Center, you may be able to open the XLS file in Excel 2016. To do so, follow the given steps:&nbsp;<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open<strong>&nbsp;Microsoft Excel 2016<\/strong>, go to&nbsp;<strong>File&gt;Options<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on&nbsp;<strong>Trust Center<\/strong>&nbsp;and then click on&nbsp;<strong>Trust Center Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"826\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/4-1.jpg\" alt=\"Change Trust Center Settings\" class=\"wp-image-61102 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/4-1.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/4-1-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/4-1-768x630.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Protected view<\/strong>&nbsp;on the left and&nbsp;<strong>un-check<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>all<\/strong>&nbsp;the options in the Protected View options<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"826\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/5-1.jpg\" alt=\"Uncheck Protected View Settings\" class=\"wp-image-61103 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/5-1.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/5-1-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/5-1-768x630.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click <strong>OK<\/strong> and&nbsp;<strong>restart<\/strong>&nbsp;MS Excel 2016.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>Then try to open the Excel workbook (XLS file).<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-4-convert-xls-files-to-xlsx\">Method 4: Convert XLS files to XLSX<\/h3><p>In MS Excel, compatibility mode lets you open and convert the XLS Office files, so they become usable in later versions. However, there are two issues with Compatibility Mode,<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After conversion, it changes the layout of the spreadsheet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can&rsquo;t go back &ndash; once the XLS file is opened and converted to the new XLSX format, you can&rsquo;t reverse it or go back<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Thus, the best way to do it safely is to back up the XLS file and then follow the steps below,<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the XLS file and go to <strong>File <\/strong>&gt;<strong>Info<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click &lsquo;<strong>Conver<\/strong>t&rsquo; button in <strong>Compatibility Mode<\/strong>&nbsp;section<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6-1-1024x631.jpg\" alt=\"Open XLS in Compatibility Mode\" class=\"wp-image-61105 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6-1-1024x631.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6-1-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6-1-768x474.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6-1.jpg 1231w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><ul class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"3\">\n<li>Click&nbsp;<strong>Convert<\/strong> and then click <strong>OK<\/strong>, if prompted<\/li>\n<\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"762\" height=\"143\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/7.jpg\" alt=\"Accept warning when prompt appears to open XLS file in MS Excel 2016\" class=\"wp-image-61106 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/7.jpg 762w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/7-300x56.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\" \/><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\">\n<li>This will convert the old XLS spreadsheet to new XLSX format which is supported by Excel 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restart Excel and open the converted XLSX file<\/li>\n<\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-method-5-repair-and-save-excel-workbooks-with-stellar-repair-for-excel\">Method 5: Repair and Save Excel Workbooks with Stellar Repair for Excel<\/h3><p>If the methods mentioned above did not work and Excel 2016 still won&rsquo;t open XLS file, then the file is corrupt and requires immediate recovery. You can use Stellar Repair for Excel to fix the corruption and save the spreadsheet as a new XLS file. The software preserves spreadsheet properties such as cell formatting, freeze panes, split, gridlines, formula bar, etc. while fixing the corruption and saving the new Excel file.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cloud.stellarinfo.com\/StellarRepairforExcel-Blog.exe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" height=\"62\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Microsoft-vs-bing-1.png\" alt=\"Free Download for Windows\" class=\"wp-image-166355 apply-gradient-on-post-images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Microsoft-vs-bing-1.png 226w, https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Microsoft-vs-bing-1-150x41.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><p>You can fix all kinds of Excel file corruption with this software and get back your data. It supports all MS Excel versions starting from Excel 2000 to 2019. Moreover, you can choose to repair single as well as multiple XLS\/XLSX files at once.<\/p><p>After repair, you can open the XLS file in Excel 2016 and save it in new XLSX format. &nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2><p>If you cannot open XLS Excel file in MS Excel 2016, follow the methods discussed in this post. Sometimes, a simple workaround resolves the issue. However, if you can&rsquo;t open the XLS in the Excel 2016, you should use an Excel recovery tool such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/repair-excel-file.php\">Stellar Repair for Excel<\/a>.<\/p><p>When nothing works, then the XLS file is probably corrupt which can be repaired by using this Excel repair software from Stellar&reg;. All you need to do is choose the XLS file, click on Repair and then save the spreadsheet to a new XLS file that you can open in Excel 2016\/2013 and even in 2019. You can try it, the software is free to download.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>XLS is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file format, used by Excel 2003&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/excel-2016-wont-open-xls-files\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">[Resolved] Excel 2016 Won&#8217;t Open XLS Files: Fixing Guide<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":61160,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-file-repair","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>[Resolved] Excel 2016 Won&#039;t Open XLS Files: Fixing 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