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How to Open Excel Workbooks in Separate Windows Instead of Tabs
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft Excel and Word documents from grouping into tabs within the same window and restore the default behavior of opening in individual, separate windows.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Opening multiple Excel workbooks or Word documents simultaneously for side-by-side comparison.
- Observed behavior
- Documents are unexpectedly opening as browser-like tabs within a single application window rather than generating new, separate application windows.
Ensure you have saved all your open documents and completely closed out of any running Office applications before modifying add-ins or performing system restarts.
Disable or Uninstall 'Office Tab' and Similar Add-ins
Third-party window-management tools are the most common cause of tabbed Office documents. Removing them restores the default separate-window behavior.
Microsoft Office does not natively force documents into tabs. This functionality is almost always introduced by a third-party extension installed on your system, most notably 'Office Tab'. Removing or disabling the interfering software will resolve the issue.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel' into the search bar, and hit Enter. Navigate to 'Programs' and click on 'Programs and Features'.
Scroll through your list of installed applications and look for 'Office Tab', 'Kutools', or any other third-party tab-management utility.
Right-click the application name and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts to completely remove the software from your computer.
Once the uninstallation is complete, restart Excel and open multiple workbooks to verify they now launch in separate windows.
Perform a Windows Clean Boot
If you cannot locate a specific add-in, a clean boot helps identify if a hidden background program or antivirus application is forcing Office into a tabbed view.
Force New Windows via Application Shortcuts
Use taskbar shortcuts to manually force Excel to open a completely separate application instance before loading a file.
Enjoy Native Tab & Window Management in WPS Office
WPS Office features an advanced, built-in tabbed interface that lets you seamlessly organize documents. Unlike Microsoft Office, you can easily drag any tab out to instantly create a separate window for side-by-side comparison, giving you the best of both worlds without unstable add-ins.
- 1. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open multiple workbooks. They will neatly organize into tabs at the top of the interface.
- 2. Click and Drag the Tab: Click and hold the document tab that you want to view in a separate window.
- 3. Drag Outside the Bar: Pull your cursor downwards, away from the tab bar, and release the mouse button.
- 4. View in a Separate Window: The spreadsheet will instantly snap into its own independent window, allowing for easy side-by-side editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Excel suddenly opening my files in tabs?
Microsoft Excel does not feature a native tabbed document interface. If your files are opening as tabs, it is typically caused by a third-party add-in or extension (such as Office Tab) that was installed on your PC to force documents into a single window.
How do I view two Excel workbooks side-by-side in the same window?
If you want to compare files without relying on tabs, open both workbooks, navigate to the 'View' tab on the Excel ribbon, and select 'View Side by Side'. Excel will arrange both windows vertically or horizontally for easy comparison.
How do I disable add-ins directly from inside Excel?
Open Excel and go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the window, select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown menu and click 'Go'. Uncheck any window-management add-ins you see in the list and click OK to disable them.
Will updating Microsoft Office fix the tabbed window issue?
No. Because the tabbed behavior is caused by a third-party application rather than an Office bug, updating Microsoft Office will not remove the tabs. You must manually uninstall or disable the interfering add-in from your Windows settings.
