How to Open a Downloaded File in Excel Instead of Numbers on Mac
Question details
The user wants to open a downloaded spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel instead of Apple Numbers on Mac and optionally make Excel the default application for that file type.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac (Microsoft 365)
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- A downloaded spreadsheet opens in Apple Numbers even though Microsoft Excel is installed through Microsoft 365. The user wants to open the file in Excel and optionally change the default application.
- Observed behavior
- The downloaded spreadsheet opens in Apple Numbers instead of Microsoft Excel.
Make sure Microsoft Excel is installed and visible in the Applications folder, and note the file extension such as .xlsx or .xls in Finder before changing file associations.
Open a Downloaded Spreadsheet Directly in Excel on Mac
Use this solution when you want to open only the current downloaded file in Excel without changing the system default application.
If Microsoft Excel does not appear in the Open With list, choose Other and select Microsoft Excel from the Applications folder.
Open Microsoft Excel from the Applications folder, Launchpad, or Dock on your Mac.
In Excel, click File in the menu bar, select Open, then browse to the downloaded file in Finder and click Open.
Right-click the downloaded file in Finder, choose Open With, and select Microsoft Excel.
Set Microsoft Excel as the Default App for Spreadsheets on Mac
Use this solution when you want all files of the same type, such as .xlsx, to open in Excel automatically.
Use WPS Office on Mac to Open Spreadsheets as a Free, Lightweight Excel Alternative
If macOS file association issues between Numbers and Microsoft 365 are slowing you down, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight spreadsheet tool with familiar menus and full compatibility with Excel files, so you can open and edit .xlsx workbooks without conversion.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office website on your Mac and download the free installer, or get it from the Mac App Store.
- 2. Open a spreadsheet in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office, click Spreadsheets, or open the downloaded Excel file directly to edit it in WPS.
- 3. Set WPS Office as default for spreadsheets: In Finder, right-click the file, choose Get Info, select WPS Office under Open with, and click Change All.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my downloaded Excel file open in Numbers on Mac?
macOS uses Apple Numbers as the default handler for spreadsheet file types such as .xlsx when no other app has been set. You can change this per file with Open With or for all files via Get Info.
How do I open a single .xlsx file in Excel without changing defaults?
Right-click the file in Finder, choose Open With, and select Microsoft Excel. You can also open Excel and use File > Open to browse to the file.
How do I make Excel the default for all .xlsx files on Mac?
Right-click the file, choose Get Info, expand Open with, select Microsoft Excel, click Change All, and confirm.
What if Microsoft Excel is not listed in the Open With menu?
Choose Other in the Open With menu, go to the Applications folder, select Microsoft Excel, and click Add or Open.
Can I use WPS Office instead of Excel to open .xlsx files on Mac?
Yes, WPS Office supports .xlsx and .xls files and can be set as the default spreadsheet app using the same Finder > Get Info > Change All method.
