Office Settings & Configuration

How to Set .xlsx as the Default Excel File Format Across an Organization

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if Microsoft 365 administrators can enforce .xlsx as the default Excel workbook format for all users, or how to configure this setting on individual devices.

How to Set .xlsx as the Default Excel File Format Across an Organization

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Standardizing the default file save format to .xlsx across multiple users or company devices.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 does not provide a native organization-wide toggle in the admin center, requiring users or administrators to configure the default saving format locally on each device.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to the local Excel application on the target devices, as this setting must generally be configured locally unless deployed via advanced IT policies like Group Policy.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Configure the Default Save Format on Individual Devices

Since Microsoft 365 lacks a single web-based admin toggle for this preference, the most straightforward approach is to configure the default file format directly within the Excel application on each device.

This local setting tells Excel to automatically select the .xlsx format whenever a user saves a newly created workbook. Users will need to repeat this process on any new device they use.

Open Microsoft Excel

Launch the Microsoft Excel desktop application and open a blank workbook to access the main interface.

Navigate to Excel Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Options' at the very bottom of the left-hand menu.

Access Save Settings

In the Excel Options dialog box that appears, click on the 'Save' tab located in the left-hand navigation pane.

Select the .xlsx Format

Find the 'Save files in this format' drop-down menu under the 'Save workbooks' section, and choose 'Excel Workbook (*.xlsx)'.

Apply and Save

Click 'OK' at the bottom of the dialog box to apply your changes. All new spreadsheets created on this device will now default to the .xlsx format.

Manually Configure the Default Save Format on Individual Devices

Advanced Organization Deployment: While there is no simple Microsoft 365 Admin Center toggle, IT administrators can enforce this setting across an organization by deploying Administrative Templates via Group Policy Objects (GPO) or Microsoft Intune.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can IT administrators enforce the .xlsx format for all users globally?

Standard Microsoft 365 admin center settings do not offer a simple toggle for this. However, IT administrators can enforce the default save format by configuring Microsoft 365 Apps Administrative Templates via Windows Group Policy (GPO) or Microsoft Intune.

Will changing the default format affect my existing Excel files?

No, changing the default save format only applies to new workbooks you create and save going forward. Existing .xls or .csv files will remain in their original formats unless you manually choose to 'Save As' .xlsx.

Why do some files still open as .xls after changing the default setting?

If you open an older template or receive an older .xls file via email, Excel will open it in its original format to preserve the file's integrity. The default format setting only dictates the file type when saving a newly created, unsaved workbook.

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