Office Performance Issues

Fix Excel Window Minimizing After Selecting Enable Editing

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore an Excel workbook window that minimizes to the taskbar and becomes unresponsive to maximize commands after exiting Protected View.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Opening a downloaded or protected Excel file and clicking the 'Enable Editing' button on the security banner.
Observed behavior: The Excel window immediately minimizes to the taskbar and cannot be maximized or restored when clicked.

Before you start

Verify that Microsoft Excel is still running by checking for its icon on the Windows taskbar, and ensure you haven't accidentally pressed the Windows + D shortcut to hide all desktop windows.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Window Arrangement Using the Cascade Feature

Using the 'Arrange All' feature in a separate workbook forces Excel to redraw and reposition all open windows, bringing the hidden workbook back to the screen.

This display glitch occurs because Excel loses track of the window's state when transitioning from Protected View to Edit Mode. By forcing Excel to cascade all active windows, the application resets the coordinates and size of the hidden workbook.

Open a secondary workbook

Launch Microsoft Excel and open a completely blank new workbook or any other existing Excel file that opens normally without Protected View.

Navigate to the View tab

In the new workbook that is visible on your screen, click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon menu.

Select Arrange All

Locate the 'Window' group on the ribbon and click on the 'Arrange All' button.

Apply Cascade arrangement

In the Arrange Windows dialog box that appears, select the 'Cascade' option and click 'OK'.

Resume working on your file

The previously minimized workbook will now appear layered on your screen. You can select it, maximize the window, and safely close the temporary secondary workbook.

Tip: You can leave the secondary workbook closed once your primary file is successfully restored and maximized.

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3. Open your spreadsheets securely: Right-click your problematic Excel files and choose 'Open with WPS Office' to view and edit them without encountering unexpected window glitches.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel minimize when I click Enable Editing?

This happens due to a display rendering bug in Microsoft Excel when transitioning a document from the restricted Protected View to standard edit mode, which can cause the window state to become corrupted and minimize to the taskbar.

Can I prevent Excel from opening files in Protected View entirely?

Yes, you can disable Protected View by navigating to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Protected View and unchecking the options. However, this is not recommended as it removes a critical security layer for files downloaded from the internet.

What if the Cascade windows trick doesn't work?

If arranging the windows does not restore the minimized Excel file, hover over the Excel icon on your Windows taskbar, right-click the specific file's thumbnail preview, and select 'Maximize'. Alternatively, press Alt + Space, then press 'X' to force the active window to maximize.

Office App Problems