Office Settings & Configuration

How to Set Default Excel Workbook, Sheet, and Theme Settings

Maira Mehtab Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users want to establish permanent default formatting, cell styles, themes, and settings for all newly created workbooks and worksheets.

How to Set Default Excel Workbook, Sheet, and Theme Settings

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a new blank workbook or inserting a new worksheet and needing it to automatically inherit customized default formats.
Observed behavior: Excel custom templates, cell styles, and themes do not consistently apply to new workbooks or newly added worksheets without manual setup.

Before you start

Ensure you have file explorer configured to show hidden files and folders, as the AppData folder required to access XLSTART is hidden by default.

Solution 1Recommended

Save Custom Templates to the XLSTART Folder

Configure your desired formatting in a blank workbook and save it as a template in Excel's startup folder to enforce default settings.

Excel relies on the XLSTART folder to load default configurations upon startup. To establish default settings, you must save your customized templates with specific names. The required filenames depend on the installation language of your Excel application.

Configure your desired settings

Open a new blank Excel workbook. Adjust the cell styles, themes, fonts, page layouts, and the number of default sheets to your exact preference.

Save as a workbook template

Go to 'File' > 'Save As'. In the file format dropdown menu, select 'Excel Template (*.xltx)'. Name this file 'Book.xltx' (if using English Excel) or the equivalent default workbook name in your language (e.g., 'Mappe.xltx' for German).

Locate the XLSTART folder

Navigate to the XLSTART folder on your system. This is typically located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART.

Save the workbook template

Save the 'Book.xltx' file directly into the XLSTART folder.

Create a worksheet template

To ensure newly inserted individual sheets also carry these settings, delete all but one sheet in your workbook. Save this file as an Excel Template named 'Sheet.xltx' (or 'Tabelle.xltx' for German) in the exact same XLSTART folder.

Save Custom Templates to the XLSTART Folder

Language-Specific Filenames: If you are using a non-English version of Excel, your templates must match the localized default file names. For example, a German installation requires 'Mappe.xltx' instead of 'Book.xltx', and 'Tabelle.xltx' instead of 'Sheet.xltx'.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Easier Template and Style Management

If you want to avoid complicated folder paths and language-specific naming rules, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office. It effortlessly manages custom templates and styles while maintaining full compatibility with Excel formats.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the installation process.
2. Create Your Layout: Open WPS Spreadsheet, format your cells, adjust your themes, and set up your document exactly as you want it.
3. Save as Template: Click 'Menu' > 'Save As', select 'WPS Spreadsheet Template (*.ett)', and save it to access your custom format anytime.

100% format compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xltx, .xls).Intuitive built-in template library that skips complicated folder configurations.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on older and modern devices.Completely free to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the XLSTART folder on my computer?

The XLSTART folder is typically located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. If you cannot see the AppData folder, you need to open File Explorer, go to the View tab, and check the box for 'Hidden items'.

Why do new tabs not look like my default workbook?

Adding a new tab uses a different default template than creating a whole new workbook. To fix this, you must save a single-tab customized template named 'Sheet.xltx' (or your language's equivalent) into the XLSTART folder.

Will my custom templates be deleted if I update Microsoft Office?

Generally, updating Office does not delete files stored in your user-specific AppData roaming folders. However, it is highly recommended to keep backup copies of your Book.xltx and Sheet.xltx files in a separate, secure folder.

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