SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Excel and PowerPoint Files Not Opening in Browser

Steve K Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to open Excel and PowerPoint files stored in SharePoint directly within their web browser.

How to Fix SharePoint Excel and PowerPoint Files Not Opening in Browser

Product: Microsoft SharePoint / Office for the Web
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open SharePoint documents in a web browser using links with specific URL parameters.
Observed behavior: The browser fails to load the Excel or PowerPoint files when URL parameters like CT and OR=ItemsView are present in the link, but works when they are removed.

Before you start

Verify whether manually removing the URL parameters (such as CT and OR=ItemsView) from the document link allows the file to open normally.

Solution 1

Manually Remove URL Parameters (Temporary Workaround)

Quickly open a specific file by manually editing the URL in your browser's address bar.

If you need immediate access to a file and cannot wait for an administrator to resolve the site configuration issue, you can modify the link directly in your browser.

Inspect the URL

Click the SharePoint link and look at the web address in your browser's top address bar.

Delete problematic parameters

Locate and delete the '&CT' and 'OR=ItemsView' parameters from the end of the URL.

Reload the page

Press Enter to reload the modified URL and open your Excel or PowerPoint file.

Solution 2Recommended

Contact Your Microsoft 365 Administrator

Since this is an environment or site configuration issue at scale, Microsoft Online Support must intervene.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Your Spreadsheets and Presentations with WPS Office

If SharePoint and Office for the web are experiencing downtime or configuration errors, you can download your files and open them seamlessly in WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and install the free suite on your device.
2. Download file from SharePoint: Select the problematic file in your SharePoint library, click the three dots, and choose 'Download'.
3. Open in WPS Office: Double-click the downloaded .xlsx or .pptx file to open and edit it instantly without browser dependency.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsLightweight desktop app that opens large files quickly and without lagFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn user interfaceWorks flawlessly offline when web apps fail to load

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do URL parameters like CT and OR=ItemsView break SharePoint links?

These parameters are typically generated for tracking or view state management in SharePoint. If there is a misconfiguration on the site, the Office web viewer may fail to parse these parameters correctly, preventing the file from opening.

Can I permanently disable these URL parameters in SharePoint as an end user?

End users cannot disable these parameters as they are generated dynamically by SharePoint's internal routing. A Microsoft 365 administrator must escalate the issue to Microsoft Support to fix the root cause on the backend.

Does this URL parameter issue affect Word documents too?

While the specific error detailed here commonly affects Excel and PowerPoint files, similar URL parameter misconfigurations can occasionally impact Word documents. The troubleshooting step of manually removing the parameters to bypass the error remains the same.

Document & File Issues