Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove the Number After an Excel Workbook Filename

WPS Content Manager Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to remove the trailing number (such as ' - 2') that automatically appears after the workbook filename in the application title bar.

How to Remove the Number After an Excel Workbook Filename

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing an Excel workbook where a secondary window of the same file is hidden or open, often triggered by VBA macro execution.
Observed behavior: The workbook filename displays a numbered suffix such as 'abc.xlsm - 2' instead of the standard filename.

Before you start

Verify if you have intentionally opened multiple views of the same workbook or if a recently executed macro might have altered your window visibility settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Unhide and Close Extra Workbook Windows

The most common reason for the numbered suffix is that a second window of the same workbook is hidden. Unhiding and closing it resolves the issue.

Navigate to the View Tab

Open your workbook and click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon menu.

Unhide the Window

Locate the 'Window' group and click on 'Unhide'. If the button is greyed out, there are no hidden windows in your current session.

Select the Workbook

In the Unhide dialog box, select the name of your hidden workbook window from the list and click 'OK'.

Close the Duplicate Window

Once the hidden window appears, click the 'X' in its top-right corner to close it, leaving only the primary window open without the numbered suffix.

Solution 2

Correct the VBA Macro Code

If you are using macros, certain VBA commands might be automatically hiding your active window and creating new instances.

Manage Windows Efficiently

Organize Workbook Views with WPS Spreadsheets

WPS Office provides an intuitive tabbed interface and advanced window management tools to help you avoid duplicate window issues and keep your workspace clutter-free.

1. Open File in WPS Office: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your affected workbook.
2. Access Window Settings: Click on the 'View' tab located on the top navigation ribbon.
3. Unhide Windows: Select 'Unhide Window' to reveal any background instances of your file that may be running.
4. Close Extra Views: Close any redundant tabs to immediately remove the numbered suffix from your filename.

Seamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xlsm).Easily manage multiple workbook views with a clean, built-in tabbed interface.Fully supports VBA macros to automate your daily spreadsheet tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel file have a '- 1' or '- 2' next to the name?

This happens when multiple views or windows of the exact same workbook are open simultaneously, even if one is hidden. The application automatically numbers them to help you distinguish between the different window instances.

Will the number suffix change my actual file name on the computer?

No, the suffix only appears in the application's title bar to denote window instances. Your actual saved filename in your computer's folder remains completely unchanged.

How can I prevent my macros from hiding workbook windows?

You can open the VBA Editor by pressing ALT + F11 and reviewing your scripts. Remove or comment out commands like 'ActiveWindow.Visible = False' to stop the macro from hiding your active spreadsheet.

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