File Corruption & Recovery

How to Open Two Excel Workbooks as Separate Files and Recover Them

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to open two overlapping Excel workbooks as completely separate files and recover a potentially corrupted OneDrive copy of the document.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to work on two distinct workbooks simultaneously and trying to restore a working version of a corrupted OneDrive file.
Observed behavior: Two workbooks are opening as if they are the same file with different names, and the OneDrive copy appears corrupted even after clearing the document cache.

Before you start

Make sure you have an active internet connection to access OneDrive recovery features, and close all currently running Office applications to prevent instance grouping.

Solution 1Recommended

Open Workbooks in Separate Excel Instances

Force Excel to launch in separate instances using taskbar shortcuts or Windows Search to keep your workbooks completely independent.

Opening files directly from the Recent list or double-clicking them often forces them into the same Excel instance. By launching the application manually for each file, you ensure they run in completely separate windows.

Pin Excel to the Taskbar

Type 'Excel' into Windows Search, right-click the application from the search results, and select 'Pin to taskbar' for easy access.

Open the First Instance

Click the Excel icon on your taskbar to open the application. Go to 'File' > 'Open' and select your first workbook.

Force a Second Instance

Hold down the 'Alt' key on your keyboard and middle-click (or right-click and select 'Excel') on the taskbar icon to launch a completely separate Excel window. Use 'File' > 'Open' in this new window to load the second workbook.

Avoid the Recent List: Do not open the second document from the 'Recent' list in your first Excel window, as this will group them back into the same application instance.

Solution 2

Recover Corrupted Workbooks from OneDrive

Restore an older, uncorrupted version of your workbook using OneDrive's Version History and Recycle Bin features.

Seamless Workbook Management

Easily Manage Multiple Workbooks and Backup Files with WPS Office

WPS Office simplifies document management by opening multiple workbooks in an intuitive tabbed interface. You can easily tear off tabs into separate windows and rely on built-in Auto Backup to prevent file corruption.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open your first workbook, which will seamlessly display as a tab at the top of the interface.
2. Load the Second Workbook: Click the '+' icon next to your current tab or use 'File' > 'Open' to load your second workbook into a new tab.
3. Separate into Windows: Click and drag one of the workbook tabs outside the main WPS window. It will instantly snap into its own completely separate window.
4. Recover Lost Files: If you ever encounter file corruption, simply navigate to 'Menu' > 'Backup and Recovery' > 'Auto Backup' to restore your previously auto-saved versions.

Opens multiple Excel (.xlsx, .xls) files in easy-to-navigate tabs by default.Drag and drop tabs to instantly create independent separate windows.Fully compatible with all Microsoft Excel file formats and formulas.Features a robust Auto Backup and document recovery center to save lost work.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Excel files keep opening in the same window?

By default, certain Windows settings or older versions of Office group documents into a single application instance to save memory. You can bypass this by opening a new instance of the application from the taskbar before loading the second file.

Can I recover an overwritten Excel file in OneDrive?

Yes. Right-click the overwritten file in your synchronized OneDrive folder and select 'Version history'. From there, you can view and restore older versions of the workbook.

Does clearing the cache fix corrupted Excel files?

Not always. While clearing the Office Document Cache can resolve sync issues and loading glitches, it usually does not repair a workbook that has suffered internal file corruption. Version history is a more reliable recovery method.

How can I pin Excel to my taskbar for quick access?

Type 'Excel' in the Windows search bar at the bottom of your screen. Right-click the Excel app icon in the search results and choose 'Pin to taskbar'. You can now use this shortcut to launch independent Excel instances.

Document & File Issues