Template Issues

Fix Excel 2021 Ignoring Book.xltm and Sheet.xltm Templates

WPS Editor Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to get Excel 2021 to apply custom macro-enabled templates (Book.xltm and Sheet.xltm) when generating new workbooks and sheets.

How to Fix Excel 2021 Ignoring Book.xltm and Sheet.xltm Templates

Product: Microsoft Excel 2021
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating new Excel workbooks or worksheets automatically using custom macro-enabled startup templates saved in the XLSTART folder.
Observed behavior: Excel ignores the custom templates stored in the XLSTART directory and continues to create default, unformatted blank workbooks and sheets instead.

Before you start

Ensure you have closed all running instances of Excel before checking your startup folders and renaming any template files.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify the XLSTART Folder Location and File Names

Ensure your macro-enabled templates are correctly named and saved in the exact XLSTART directory recognized by your Excel version.

Excel strictly requires startup templates to be named 'Book' and 'Sheet' with the correct file extensions. A misplaced folder or a hidden double extension will cause Excel to ignore them entirely.

Locate the correct XLSTART folder

Press Win + R, type '%appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART', and press Enter to open the default user startup folder.

Reveal hidden extensions

In File Explorer, go to the View tab and check the 'File name extensions' box to verify your files are not accidentally named 'Book.xltm.xltm'.

Check the exact file names

Ensure your files are named precisely 'Book.xltm' and 'Sheet.xltm'. Avoid names with numbers like 'Book1.xltm' or incorrect extensions.

Verify the XLSTART Folder Location and File Names

Check Program Files Location: If placing the files in the AppData folder doesn't work, try saving the templates in the system-level directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART.

Solution 2

Check Excel Trust Center and Startup Settings

Confirm that Excel's security settings are not blocking the XLSTART folder or disabling macros.

Solution 3

Confirm Office Display Language Consistency

Match the startup template file names with the default workbook names used by your specific Office display language.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the default XLSTART folder located?

The typical user path is C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. The system path is usually located within the Program Files directory under Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART, depending on your installation version.

Why are my custom Excel templates still opening as a blank, unformatted workbook?

This usually happens if Windows is hiding file extensions and your file is accidentally named Book.xltm.xltm. You can fix this by enabling 'File name extensions' in the View tab of Windows File Explorer and correcting the file name.

Can I use a different folder for Excel startup templates instead of XLSTART?

Yes. You can specify a custom startup folder by going to File > Options > Advanced. Scroll down to the General section, and enter your preferred folder path into the 'At startup, open all files in' box.

Does my computer's language affect Excel template names?

Yes. Excel requires the Book and Sheet template names to match the Office display language. For example, if your Excel interface is in Spanish, the templates must be named Libro.xltm and Hoja.xltm instead of Book.xltm.

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