SharePoint Document Issues

How to Create a SharePoint Link That Opens a File in Word or Excel

Amos Gikunda Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure SharePoint document links so that they automatically open in the native Microsoft Word or Excel desktop applications instead of the default web browser view.

How to Create a SharePoint Link That Opens Files in Word or Excel

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing document links from a SharePoint library and ensuring recipients open them in the desktop application.
Observed behavior: SharePoint links default to opening in the web browser. Manual protocol links can force the desktop app to open, but they may cause crashes or fail when placed on modern SharePoint pages.

Before you start

Before modifying your SharePoint URLs, ensure that you have the Microsoft Office desktop applications installed on your computer and that your browser permissions allow launching external applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Library Settings to Default to Client Application

The most reliable method to ensure files open in the desktop app is for a site administrator to change the default behavior for the entire document library.

Instead of changing individual URLs, administrators can configure the SharePoint library so that all compatible documents open in their respective desktop apps when clicked.

Navigate to Library Settings

Open your SharePoint document library, click the gear icon in the top right corner, and select 'Library settings'.

Access Advanced Settings

Click on 'More library settings' to open the classic settings page, then click on 'Advanced settings' under the General Settings column.

Change Opening Behavior

Scroll down to the 'Opening Documents in the Browser' section, select the 'Open in the client application' radio button, and click 'OK' at the bottom of the page to save your changes.

Configure Library Settings to Default to Client Application

Administrator Permissions Required: You must have site owner or administrator permissions to modify these advanced library settings.

Solution 2

Use Office Protocol URI Handlers

If you cannot change library settings, you can manually prefix specific document URLs with protocol handlers to force the desktop application to launch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Stable Document Editing with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter crashes or loading issues when trying to open SharePoint files in Microsoft Office desktop applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that seamlessly handles your everyday document needs.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free desktop application for your operating system.
2. Install and Open: Run the installer and launch WPS Office once the installation is complete.
3. Edit Your Documents: Download your files from SharePoint to your local drive and open them in WPS Office for a stable, fast, and fully compatible editing experience.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsLightweight architecture ensures fast loading times without desktop application crashesFree to use with a familiar, tabbed user interface that requires no learning curveAll-in-one suite that combines Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation in a single app

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my SharePoint links open in the web browser by default?

SharePoint defaults to opening documents in Office for the Web to enable fast, seamless viewing and real-time co-authoring without requiring users to have the heavy desktop applications installed on their local devices.

What does the 'ofe' mean in the ms-word protocol link?

In the Office URI scheme, 'ofe' stands for 'Open For Edit'. It instructs the corresponding desktop application to open the file from the specified URL in edit mode rather than read-only mode.

Can I use protocol handlers for PowerPoint files as well?

Yes, you can force PowerPoint presentations to open in the desktop application by prefixing the direct SharePoint URL with 'ms-powerpoint:ofe|u|'.

Document & File Issues