Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Excel's Duplicate File Name Message at Startup

Elise Williams Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user encounters an error stating that two files have the same name immediately upon launching the application, preventing a normal startup sequence.

How to Fix Excel's Duplicate File Name Error at Startup

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Starting the Excel application before manually opening any specific workbook.
Observed behavior: Excel displays a warning message about two files having the same name right after startup, typically caused by conflicting files in startup directories or loaded add-ins.

Before you start

Ensure you have closed all active Excel windows and check if you recently saved a workbook or downloaded a third-party add-in into your default startup directory.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Excel's Startup Folders

Check and clean both the default XLSTART folder and the custom alternate startup path to remove duplicate files or shortcuts causing the conflict.

Excel automatically attempts to open any files located in its designated startup folders when launched. If identical files, or files sharing the exact same name, exist in both the default XLSTART directory and an alternate startup folder, Excel will trigger a duplicate file name error.

Open Excel Options

Launch Excel (bypassing the error if necessary), click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Check the Alternate Startup Folder

Navigate to the 'Advanced' tab on the left pane. Scroll down to the 'General' section and locate the field labeled 'At startup, open all files in:'. Note this file path and clear the text box if you do not need an alternate startup location, then click 'OK'.

Locate the XLSTART Folder

Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the default path: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. You may need to enable 'Hidden items' in the View tab to see the AppData folder.

Remove Duplicate Workbooks

Review the contents of the XLSTART folder and your alternate startup folder. Delete, rename, or move any duplicate workbooks, temporary files, or shortcuts to resolve the conflict.

Hidden Temporary Files: Keep an eye out for hidden temporary files that start with '~$'. These are created when Excel crashes and can also trigger duplicate file name warnings. Delete them if Excel is fully closed.

Solution 2

Identify Conflicts Using Excel Safe Mode

Run Excel in Safe Mode to temporarily bypass all startup folders and add-ins, helping you pinpoint the exact cause of the duplicate name message.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the default XLSTART folder located in Windows?

By default, the XLSTART folder is located at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. You must enable 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' in Windows File Explorer's View settings to see the AppData folder.

What does the 'At startup, open all files in' setting do?

This setting allows you to designate a specific custom folder where any file placed inside will automatically open when Excel launches. If a file in this alternate folder has the exact same name as a file in the XLSTART directory, Excel will throw a duplicate file name error.

Can hidden temporary files cause this startup error in Excel?

Yes. When Excel crashes or closes unexpectedly, it may leave behind temporary hidden files that start with '~$'. If Excel tries to recover or open these files alongside the original workbook at startup, it can trigger the duplicate name conflict.

Will resetting Excel to default settings fix this issue?

Resetting Excel can help if the issue stems from corrupted registry keys or settings, but it will not automatically delete duplicate files from your XLSTART or alternate startup folders. It is highly recommended to manually check the startup folders first.

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