How to Stop Excel File Open Dialog from Grouping Items by Date
Question details
The user wants to remove the date-based grouping headers (such as Today, Yesterday, Last week) in the Excel File Open dialog to view all files as a single, easily sortable list.
- Product
- Excel 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Browsing for files to open using the File > Open > Browse menu in Excel.
- Observed behavior
- Files and folders are automatically grouped and separated by date headings instead of being displayed in a flat, alphabetically sortable list.
Note that the 'Browse' window in Excel utilizes the standard Windows File Explorer interface, meaning changes made to the grouping settings here apply to the current folder's view in Windows.
Disable 'Group by' in the Browse Dialog
Remove the date grouping directly within the File Open window using the right-click context menu to restore a standard list view.
This adjustment directly changes how the Windows file dialog displays items for the specific folder you are browsing. It is entirely separate from Excel's internal 'Recent Files' options.
Launch Excel and navigate to File > Open > Browse to open the file selection window.
Right-click on an empty white space within the main file and folder list area of the dialog box.
Hover over 'Group by' in the context menu that appears, and select 'None' from the expanded list.
Click the 'Name' column header at the top of the file list to sort your files and folders alphabetically.
Try WPS Office for a Streamlined File Management Experience
If you are frustrated by complex interface quirks and unexpected folder grouping behaviors in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, user-friendly tabbed workspace for managing your documents effortlessly.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install the software on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and use the clean interface to open and edit your existing Excel files seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the 'Number to show' setting in Excel Options fix the date grouping?
The 'Number to show' setting located under File > Options > Advanced only controls the internal recent files list displayed on Excel's start screen. It does not affect the external Windows 'Browse' dialog grouping behavior.
Will changing this setting affect other folders on my computer?
Changing the 'Group by' setting in the Excel Open dialog typically applies only to the current folder's view template in Windows File Explorer. Other folders with different view templates may retain their original settings.
Can I sort the files by modified date without grouping them?
Yes. Once you set 'Group by' to 'None', you can click the 'Date modified' column header at the top of the file list. This will sort the files chronologically without separating them into distinct date categories like 'Yesterday' or 'Last week'.
