Office Settings & Configuration

Fix New Excel Files Opening with Arabic Right-to-Left Direction

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users report that creating a new Excel workbook using the Windows right-click 'New' context menu results in a file with Arabic worksheet names and a reversed right-to-left column layout.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Creating a new Microsoft Excel worksheet from the Windows desktop or File Explorer right-click context menu.
Observed behavior: The newly generated Excel file defaults to Arabic language worksheet names and displays columns from right to left instead of the standard English left-to-right format.

Before you start

Make sure all instances of Microsoft Excel are completely closed before navigating to system folders, and check if you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office to locate the correct directory.

Solution 1Recommended

Replace the Default EXCEL12 Template in the SHELLNEW Folder

This solution involves replacing the corrupted or Arabic-configured template file that Windows uses to generate new Excel documents with a freshly configured English workbook.

When you right-click on the desktop and select 'New > Microsoft Excel Worksheet', Windows duplicates a hidden system template named EXCEL12. If this template is replaced by an Arabic installation or becomes corrupted, all future files created this way will inherit those incorrect regional settings.

Locate the SHELLNEW directory

Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the template folder. Depending on your Office installation, this is typically found at 'C:\Windows\SHELLNEW', 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\SHELLNEW', or 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\SHELLNEW'.

Back up the existing template

Find the file named 'EXCEL12' (or 'EXCEL12.xlsx'). Right-click the file, select 'Copy', and paste it into a safe backup folder like your Documents or Desktop.

Create a new English template

Open Microsoft Excel normally from the Start Menu to create a standard, blank English workbook with left-to-right columns. Save this file to your Desktop and name it 'EXCEL12'.

Replace the corrupted file

Drag and drop your newly created 'EXCEL12' file into the applicable SHELLNEW folder, replacing the existing file. You may need to provide Administrator permission to complete this action.

Test the Solution: After replacing the file, right-click on your desktop, choose 'New > Microsoft Excel Worksheet', and open it to verify the columns are now oriented left-to-right with English worksheet names.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel file suddenly open from right to left?

This usually happens when the default Excel template used by the Windows context menu is overwritten by a Right-to-Left (RTL) language configuration, such as Arabic or Hebrew, often caused by a recent Office update or language pack installation.

Can I fix the right-to-left layout in an already created Excel file?

Yes. Open the affected Excel file, navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top ribbon, and click the 'Sheet Right-to-Left' button to toggle the worksheet back to a standard left-to-right view. Note that this only fixes the current file, not future files created via right-click.

What is the EXCEL12 file used for?

The EXCEL12 file is a blank template stored in the Windows SHELLNEW directory. Whenever you right-click on your desktop or inside a folder and select 'New > Microsoft Excel Worksheet', Windows simply makes a copy of this EXCEL12 template.

Why can't I find the SHELLNEW folder on my C: drive?

The SHELLNEW folder is a hidden system directory. To view it, you must open File Explorer, go to the 'View' tab, and check the box for 'Hidden items'. Alternatively, you can type the folder path directly into the File Explorer address bar.

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