How to Fix Excel Opening a Blank Window with OneDrive Files
Question details
Users experience an issue where launching a OneDrive or SharePoint file from the jump list causes Excel to open an additional blank window.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel, OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening files from the Windows jump list that are stored in OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Observed behavior
- Excel launches the intended spreadsheet but simultaneously opens an unexpected, extra blank application window.
Ensure your OneDrive application is actively running in the background and you are signed into the correct Microsoft account before modifying synchronization settings.
Enable Office Application File Sync in OneDrive
Modifying how OneDrive and Office interact usually resolves the blank window issue caused by synchronization conflicts.
This is the most common fix for the extra blank window issue. It allows Microsoft Office to handle the synchronization of the files you open rather than relying entirely on OneDrive's background processes.
Right-click the blue or white OneDrive cloud icon in your Windows taskbar system tray and select 'Settings' or the gear icon.
In the OneDrive settings window, click on the 'Office' tab located at the top.
Check the box labeled 'Use Office applications to sync Office files that I open'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes, then restart Microsoft Excel and try opening a file from the jump list again.
Disable AutoSave for OneDrive and SharePoint Files by Default
If the issue persists, adjusting Excel's AutoSave behavior can prevent the application from struggling with cloud sync protocols upon launch.
Launch Excel in Safe Mode
Running Excel in Safe Mode helps determine if a third-party add-in is causing the blank window to appear.
Tired of Excel Sync Issues? Try WPS Office
If you frequently encounter frustrating bugs like extra blank windows and OneDrive sync errors in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative for all your spreadsheet needs without the heavy background synchronization issues.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Once installed, open WPS Spreadsheets.
- 3. Open Your Files: Click 'Open' to browse and open your local or cloud-stored Excel files with perfect formatting preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel open an extra blank screen?
This usually happens due to a synchronization conflict between the OneDrive application and Microsoft Office, especially when opening files directly from Windows jump lists, taskbar shortcuts, or recent file menus.
Does turning off AutoSave prevent my files from saving to OneDrive?
No. Turning off AutoSave by default only stops Excel from saving changes automatically as you type. You can still manually save the file to your OneDrive folder, and it will sync to the cloud.
What should I do if Safe Mode stops the blank window issue?
If the extra window disappears when running in Safe Mode, it indicates that an installed add-in is likely causing the problem. You can permanently fix this by going to File > Options > Add-ins in Excel and disabling third-party COM add-ins one by one until you find the culprit.
Will updating Microsoft Office fix the jump list bug?
Sometimes. Microsoft frequently releases patches for known bugs. You can check for updates by opening Excel, navigating to File > Account, clicking Update Options, and selecting Update Now.
