How to Associate TSV Files with Excel 2016 in Windows 10
Question details
The user wants to set Excel 2016 as the default program for opening .tsv (Tab-Separated Values) files.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to assign a default application for .tsv files so they automatically open in a spreadsheet upon double-clicking.
- Observed behavior
- Windows 10 does not list Excel as an option in the default apps menu for .tsv files; it only suggests text editors like WordPad, Notepad, and the Microsoft Store.
Ensure Microsoft Excel 2016 is installed on your Windows 10 computer. You may need administrative privileges to change file associations and browse the Program Files directory.
Manually Locate Excel.exe via File Explorer
Bypass the default Windows 10 app settings by manually pointing the system to the Excel application file directly from File Explorer.
Since Windows 10 categorizes TSV files as plain text, it naturally prioritizes text editors. By using the 'Look for another app on this PC' feature, you can force Windows to recognize Excel as a valid handler for this file type.
Open File Explorer, locate your .tsv file, right-click it, and hover over 'Open with'. From the submenu, select 'Choose another app'.
A prompt will appear showing suggested apps. Scroll down to the bottom of this list and click the 'More apps' text link.
Scroll to the very bottom of the newly expanded list and click 'Look for another app on this PC'. This will open a file browsing window.
Navigate to your Microsoft Office installation folder. For Office 2016, this is typically located at 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16' or 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16'. Find and select the 'EXCEL.EXE' file.
Before clicking 'Open', ensure that the checkbox labeled 'Always use this app to open .tsv files' is checked. Click 'Open' to apply the changes.
Seamlessly Open TSV and Spreadsheets with WPS Office
If you are experiencing ongoing file association issues in Windows 10 or need a fast, reliable spreadsheet tool, WPS Office is an excellent lightweight alternative. It instantly opens TSV, CSV, and all standard Microsoft Excel formats without complex configurations.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and run the quick installer.
- 2. Open your TSV File: Right-click any .tsv file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Spreadsheets.
- 3. Edit and Save: Instantly view your data in a clean spreadsheet grid and easily save it as an .xlsx file if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Windows 10 not list Excel for TSV files by default?
TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is fundamentally a plain text format. Because of this, the Windows 10 operating system naturally prioritizes default text editors like Notepad or WordPad over spreadsheet applications when suggesting default programs.
Where can I find the Excel.exe file on my Windows 10 computer?
For Microsoft Office 2016, the executable file is typically located at 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16'. If you installed the 32-bit version on a 64-bit system, check 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16' instead.
Can I open a TSV file in Excel without changing my default app settings?
Yes. You can open Excel first, navigate to File > Open > Browse, change the file type dropdown filter in the bottom right from 'All Excel Files' to 'All Files (*.*)', and then manually locate and open your TSV file.
