4

I use a lot of temporary workbooks, and when I open existing workbooks, I do it from my desktop or elsewhere. I don't ever want to see Excel's list of Featured or Personal templates that I have-never used and will-never use, and I definitely do not want to Search online for more.

I would like Excel to automatically open a Blank Workbook any time that I:

  • open Excel, or,

  • click File→New.

screenshot

I am aware that I can use Ctrl+N but honestly, I never, ever remember, and that only solves half the problem anyhow.

I'm surprised I've never seen a setting for this, but I'm thinking there must be a registry key or other buried settings?

And if not, can I at least delete or at least hide all the templates (that I've never even seen anyone use)...? (The only context commands on right-click are Preview, Create, and Pin.)

Thanks.

Improve this question
3
  • 1
    Do you want to keep the start window with Blank Workbook template or just want to open Excel without Start Window? How about other Office applications?
    – Lee
    Mar 8, 2018 at 7:36
  • @Lee The answer below did what I needed. The only other Office app I use frequently is Access, which doesn't have the same option, but that's not a big deal since I'm not creating dozens of new DB's per day (like I am with workbooks).
    – ashleedawg
    Mar 10, 2018 at 0:44
  • Possible duplicate of How to have Office 2013 Applications Open to Blank (Workbook, Document, etc) automatically?
    – Raystafarian
    Mar 20, 2019 at 5:32

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

Disable the Start Screen

Here's how to disable the Start screen so that you go directly to a blank workbook when opening Excel:

  1. Open the program and, click File > Options.

  2. Under Start up options, uncheck the Show the Start screen when this application starts box and close the program.

    enter image description here

    Source

Remove Featured Templates

I doubt there's a way to avoid the new design for the New workbook screen. It's an integral part of the application's interface. The CTRL+N shortcut may be your best bet for bypassing it.

However, according to this site you can disable the Featured Templates section with the following Registry value:

Registry Hive    HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path    software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\general
Value Name       disablehyperlinkstowebtemplates
Value Type       REG_DWORD
Enabled Value    1
Disabled Value   0

disablehyperlinkstowebtemplates=0 (default)      disablehyperlinkstowebtemplates=1

disablehyperlinkstowebtemplates=0 disablehyperlinkstowebtemplates=1

Improve this answer
1
  • Disabling the Start Screen (in Options) solved 80% of the annoyance (Figures that I've been through those options a million times and never noticed that one!). For the other one, I only had as far as HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0 so I added the last 2 keys & the value. It disables the Search for online templates bar and strangely hides some of the templates & changes the formatting on the remaining ones, but that's close enough. (I'll add screenshots to the end of your answer.) Appreciate the help; thanks!
    – ashleedawg
    Mar 10, 2018 at 0:33

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.