File Format & Compatibility

How to Show Only Word or Excel Files in the Open Dialog

Camila Milosovich Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants the Open dialog in Word and Excel to display separate file lists corresponding to each application, rather than showing all files and folders.

How to Show Only Word or Excel Files When Opening Office Applications

Product: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
Device & OS: Windows PC
Scenario: Browsing local folders using the Open dialog within a desktop Office application.
Observed behavior: The Open dialog displays both Word and Excel files together in the same directory, instead of filtering automatically by the active application.

Before you start

Verify that you are using the desktop version of your Office application, as the online browser version handles file selection differently.

Solution 1Recommended

Filter by File Type in the Open Dialog

Use the built-in file format filter in the Windows Open dialog to display only the documents relevant to the application you are using.

By default, the Windows Open dialog might display all files in a folder. You can easily restrict this view to show only specific formats, such as Word documents (.docx) or Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx).

Launch the Open Dialog

Open your desktop application (e.g., Word or Excel). Navigate to 'File' and select 'Open', then click on 'Browse' to launch the Windows Open dialog.

Locate the File Type Dropdown

Look at the bottom right corner of the dialog box, situated directly next to the 'File name' text field.

Apply the Format Filter

Click the dropdown menu (which may currently say 'All Files') and select the specific file type, such as 'Word Documents (*.docx)' or 'Excel Files (*.xlsx)'.

Quick Tip: Once you apply this filter, the dialog will hide unrelated file types, making it easier to locate the exact document you need to open.

Solution 2

Organize Documents into Dedicated Folders

Create separate folders on your hard drive for Word and Excel files so that opening a directory only reveals one type of document.

Unified File Management

Manage Word and Excel Files Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office features an all-in-one workspace that automatically categorizes your files. You can effortlessly switch between Documents and Spreadsheets tabs to view specific file types without navigating through cluttered computer folders.

1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application to enter the unified Home workspace.
2. Select Your File Category: Click on 'Docs' in the left navigation pane to see only your Word-compatible documents, or click 'Sheets' to view Excel-compatible files.
3. Open Your File Directly: Simply click on the file you wish to edit from the automatically filtered list, bypassing standard Windows folders entirely.

Automatically groups files by format (Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs).Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Eliminates the need to manually filter files in a standard Open dialog.Free, lightweight, and familiar interface for a seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Open dialog display all files by default?

The Open dialog in Office applications relies on the Windows File Explorer's default behavior, which shows the complete contents of the selected directory unless a specific file extension filter is applied by the user.

Can I permanently set Word to only show Word files in the Open dialog?

Yes. When you use the Open dialog and select 'Word Documents' from the file type dropdown menu, the application typically remembers this preference for your subsequent browsing sessions.

How can I quickly sort files by type in a crowded folder?

While in the Windows Open dialog, right-click any empty space in the file list, hover over 'Sort by', and select 'Type'. This will group all your Word documents and Excel spreadsheets together visually without needing to filter them.

Document & File Issues