How to open excel thru OneDrive in the desktop app

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2026-11-09T14:47:49.13+00:00

how do i open ms excel in desktop app? i used to be able to simply select "open in app" now, no matter what i see this in the formula bar... [moderator's note: PII removed]

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Vikki-T 13,945 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-10T10:00:22.63+00:00

    Hi Mark,

    Thank you for confirming that you have already tried the standard troubleshooting steps. Since Open in app worked previously, this may be an issue with the handoff between the browser, OneDrive, and the Excel desktop application rather than with the workbook itself.

    Could you check whether the same behavior occurs with all Excel files in your personal OneDrive or only with this particular workbook? It would also help to try the file in another browser or an InPrivate window and confirm that the OneDrive desktop app is running and signed in with the same Microsoft account used in the browser.

    When you select Open in app, does nothing happen, does the file simply remain in the browser, or do you see an error or permission prompt? That detail may help narrow down where the handoff is failing.

    In the meantime, opening the workbook through Excel desktop or from the synced OneDrive folder in File Explorer is a practical workaround. Microsoft’s official guidance about opening OneDrive files in desktop applications is available here, although the documented Open in app process mainly applies to work or school accounts. Thank you so much for your understanding.     

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-09T14:48:35.2433333+00:00

    Open the workbook from Excel itself by connecting your personal OneDrive account, rather than opening its onedrive.live.com browser URL.

    Open the OneDrive file in desktop Excel

    1. Start the Excel desktop app.
    2. Select File → Account.
    3. Select Add a service → Storage → OneDrive.
    4. Sign in with the same personal Microsoft account used on OneDrive.
    5. Return to File → Open and select OneDrive – Personal.
    6. Browse to the workbook and open it.

    Excel should now open the actual workbook in the desktop application while keeping it stored in OneDrive. ^1^

    The address beginning with https://onedrive.live.com/... is a browser link, not a local Excel filename. Microsoft notes that links opened from a browser continue opening in the Microsoft 365 web apps; the File open preference setting applies to links clicked from supported Microsoft 365 desktop applications, not links opened on a website. ^2^

    Alternative: open the synchronized file

    If your OneDrive files appear in Windows File Explorer:

    1. Select Start, search for OneDrive, and open the OneDrive desktop app.
    2. Open File Explorer → OneDrive – Personal.
    3. Find the .xlsx file and double-click it.
    4. If Windows asks which application to use, select Excel.

    Starting OneDrive is also Microsoft’s documented action when Windows reports that it cannot open a file or that OneDrive is not running. ^3^

    About “Open in app”

    Since Open in app is no longer completing the handoff, use either method above instead of repeatedly selecting it. Microsoft’s published OneDrive → More → Open → Open in app procedure specifically describes work or school accounts and requires the OneDrive sync client plus Files On-Demand; it does not establish the same applicability for the personal onedrive.live.com page shown here. ^4^

    References

    1. How to add OneDrive as a service | Microsoft Support
    2. Open file links directly in Office desktop apps | Microsoft Support
    3. Troubleshoot the "Can’t open file" error in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    4. Open a OneDrive or SharePoint file in the desktop app instead of the browser | Microsoft Support
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