How to Open Two Separate Excel Spreadsheet Windows

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When you try to open two Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, they go into the same Excel window. This is annoying, to say the least, when you are trying to compare two separate Excel spreadsheets side by side. While it is true that you an enlarge your main Excel program window then resize the underlying open spreadsheet windows to fit, this is a less than ideal solution in my opinion.

In this article I will share with you a few ways to open multiple instances of Microsoft Excel so you can have separate Excel spreadsheets open on dual monitors.

 

Alt + Excel

This option assumes you already have an Excel spreadsheet open and want to open a new Excel window to open a separate spreadsheet file in.

To open a new separate Excel program window, press and hold down the “Alt” key on your keyboard when clicking on the Microsoft Excel program icon. A new and separate Excel spreadsheet window will appear. This will allow you to put your spreadsheets side by side or swap back and forth using the Alt + Tab keys on your keyboard.

 

Alt + Scroll Wheel

This option assumes you already have an Excel spreadsheet open down on your taskbar and want to open a new Excel window to open a separate spreadsheet file in.

To open a new separate Excel program window, press and hold down the “Alt” key on your keyboard then click on the Excel taskbar icon using your mouse scroll wheel. This will open a new Excel spreadsheet in a separate window. This will allow you to put your spreadsheets side by side or swap back and forth using the Alt + Tab keys on your keyboard.

 

Use Start Menu

This option assumes you already have an Excel spreadsheet open and want to open a new Excel window to open a separate spreadsheet file in.

Click on the Windows “Start” icon (the Windows logo) down at the bottom left of your screen then type “excel.exe /x” without the quotes and press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. Just type it in, there is no location to type but it will automatically perform the function for you when you begin typing.

Quick Steps: Click Start > Type excel.exe /x > Press Enter

Open Two Separate Excel Spreadsheet Windows

 

Edit the Registry

If you plan on always opening your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets in new windows you can edit your Windows Registry to achieve this.

Note: This will only work when you use the Excel icon to open a new spreadsheet. When opening a new spreadsheet from within Excel (File > Open), the file will open in the current Excel window. The same applies when opening a file from within file explorer.

WARNING: Editing the Registry on your Windows based PC is dangerous and can result in the loss of data. Always have a recent backup ready for deployment should the need arise.

Begin by closing completely out of Microsoft Excel. Then click on the Windows “Start” icon (the Windows logo) down at the bottom left of your screen then type “Regedit” without the quotes and press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

Within the Registry address bar at the top, copy and paste the following:

  • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\

Depending upon your version of Microsoft Office, select the version (example 14.0 or 16.0), then click on the “Excel” folder, then “Options” folder. For example, if you had Microsoft Office 2010 the full address would be:

  • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Excel\Options

You should now be on the Options folder, right click on the Options folder and click “New” then “DWORD (32-bit) Value“. Name the new key: “DisableMergeInstance” and press Enter.

Next, double-click on the newly created “DisableMergeInstance” entry and change the Value data 1 and click the OK button.

The next time you open a new Excel window using the taskbar icon, it will open in a new instance of Microsoft Excel.

 

Conclusion

I welcome your thoughts, questions or suggestions on my article on how to open two separate Microsoft Excel spreadsheet windows for side by side comparison of your excel spreadsheets.

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