Tips to open XL file
Can't open the XL file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open XL files as well as a list of programs that support XL files.
XL file extension
The XL file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the XL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the XL file on each system platform.
What is XL file?
The file with the extension XL is the Spreadsheet Files file type. The author of this format is Microsoft. Spreadsheet Files consists of 100 similar files. Excel Spreadsheet appears on 2 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Microsoft Excel application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatively, you can use 2 other programs. You can use Microsoft Office in case Microsoft Excel cannot be used.
How to open XL file?
An often recurring problem with Excel Spreadsheet is that XL is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file XL to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the XL file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Microsoft Excel
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Microsoft Excel is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Microsoft Excel into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file XL with Microsoft Excel. Below is a list of programs that support the file XL.
Programs to open XL file
Remember to download programs supporting XL files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Excel with XL files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the XL file still does not use the Microsoft Excel program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the XL file with the Microsoft Excel program.
Step 3. Update Microsoft Excel to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Microsoft Excel program with the Excel Spreadsheet file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Microsoft Corporation website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the XL file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The XL file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to XL files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our XL file. Sometimes virus-infected XL files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the XL files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged XL files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Microsoft
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted XL files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the XL file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the XL file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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