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How to Fix Excel Files Opening as Viber Documents on iPad
Question details
Users need to stop Excel and other Microsoft Office files from opening in the Viber app or displaying a Viber document icon on their iPad.
- Product
- Apple iPadOS Files app and Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to open Excel or Office files from the native Files app or iCloud Drive on an iPad.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel files are redirected to the Viber app upon opening, or they display a Viber document icon instead of the standard Excel spreadsheet icon.
Ensure your iPadOS is updated to the latest version, and verify whether this file association issue occurs with files saved locally on your device, in iCloud Drive, or both.
Disable Viber Access and Restart Apps
Revoke Viber's permission to access files and folders to break the incorrect file association in iPadOS.
This method addresses the root cause of the issue by preventing Viber from intercepting document files. Once the permission is removed and the apps are restarted, the iPadOS file association system usually corrects itself.
Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders on your iPad.
Locate Viber in the list of applications and toggle off its access permissions.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then force close the Files, Safari, and Excel apps.
Reopen the Files app and tap your Excel document to see if it now opens properly in the correct application.
Open Files Directly via Cloud Storage Apps
Bypass the Apple Files app entirely by opening your documents directly from within your cloud storage application.
Refresh iCloud Drive Synchronization
If the issue only affects files stored in iCloud, refreshing the sync settings can resolve stubborn file icon and association errors.
Open and Edit Excel Files Seamlessly with WPS Office
If iPadOS file association bugs prevent you from opening Microsoft Office files properly, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that easily manages your spreadsheets, documents, and PDFs in one centralized app without relying on external file handlers.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office from the Apple App Store on your iPad.
- 2. Open the Application: Launch WPS Office and tap on the 'Files' tab located at the bottom of the screen.
- 3. Access Your Spreadsheets: Browse your local iPad storage or connected cloud drives and tap your Excel file to open it directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel files have a Viber icon on my iPad?
This happens due to an iPadOS file association glitch where the system incorrectly assigns Office file extensions (like .xlsx or .docx) to the Viber app instead of Microsoft Excel or your designated Office suite.
Will uninstalling Viber fix the Excel file issue?
Yes, temporarily uninstalling Viber forces the iPad to reset its file associations. Once the files display the correct Excel icon again, you can safely reinstall Viber without the issue returning in most cases.
Why do files open normally in OneDrive but not from the Apple Files app?
The OneDrive app utilizes its own internal file handlers and document viewers. This allows it to successfully bypass the native iPadOS file association system that the default Files app relies on.
