Issue Resolved- Unable to Open Excel File Attachments in Outlook

Quick Techniques to Fix Outlook Excel File Attachments Not Opening Problem

There are 5 different methods that can help you to open the attached Excel file in your Outlook account. You can implement the following technique to resolve the Excel not opening issue.

• Disable Add-ins in Excel
• Modify Outlook Attachment Handling to Enable Opening Excel Attachments
• Modify Excel Advanced Options
• Activate the Protected View Option
• Extract Excel Attachments using a Professional Tool

Method 1: Disable Add-ins in Excel

Often, Excel add-ins can cause issues when opening attachments in Excel. However, you can deactivate them by following these steps:

1. Launch Outlook, and click Files>Options.
2. In the dialog box select Add-Ins.
3. In the Manage section select COM Add-ins, and click Go.
4. Now, Uncheck all the Add-ins, and click Ok.
5. Finally, Restart your Outlook application and click on the attachment.

Therefore, if this approach successfully resolves your issue, congratulations! If not, please proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Modify Outlook Attachment Handling to Enable Opening Excel Attachments

If you are unable to open Excel Attachments in Outlook, then you can follow these steps to modify the options and resolve the issue. The steps are:

1. Launch Outlook on your system, and select File>Option.
2. Now select Trust Center>Trust Center Settings.
3. Next, choose the Attachment Handling > Attachment and Document Previewer option.
4. Scroll Down, and uncheck the Microsoft Excel Previewer option.
5. Finally, Click OK to save the changes.

Now click on your attachment, if it opens then the issue is resolved. Or else, follow the next methods.

Method 3: Modify Excel Advanced Options

To resolve the issue of being unable to open Excel attachments in Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Go to File > Options.
2. Now, In the Excel Options dialog box, select the Advanced option.
3. Scroll down to locate the General option.
4. Uncheck the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) option in the General tab.
5. Click OK.
6. Close the Excel file by clicking on the Close button in the top-right corner of the Excel window.
7. Launch Microsoft Outlook and double-click on the Excel attachment to open it.

Method 4: Activate the Protected view option

To resolve the issue of being unable to open Excel attachments in Outlook due to disabled Protected View, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, Close Microsoft Outlook and open Microsoft Excel.
2. Click on File and select Options.
3. In the Excel Options dialog box, choose Trust Center and click on Trust Center Settings.
4. Click on Protected View and uncheck the following boxes:
   Firstly, Enable a protected view for files originating from the internet
   Secondly, Enable a protected view for files located in potentially unsafe locations
   Enable protected view for Outlook attachments
5. Click OK to save the changes, then close Excel.
6. Restart Microsoft Outlook and try opening Excel attachments again.

Method 5: Extract Excel Attachments using Professional Tool

Sysinfo Outlook Attachment Extractor Software is a comprehensive tool that is capable to handle all the issues related to Outlook. If you are unable to open Excel attachments in Outlook, then this tool can extract them. This software is cost-effective and offers numerous useful features to the users. Some of the features are:

• Save attachments in a separate folder.
• Capable of saving bulk attachments.
• Exports Outlook Emails to Excel.
• Has an Easy GUI.

We recommend you the Excel Recovery Software if you are unable to open Excel after extracting it from your Outlook account.

Steps to Operate Outlook Attachment Extractor Software

1. Install and Run the tool as an administrator on your PC.
2. Select Single/multiple Files and click Next.
3. Browse the PST Files with Excel attachments.
4. Now, in the Tree-structured Format select the Emails having Excel attachments and click Next.
5. Select the Feature Save Attachments Separately.
6. Finally, click on Convert.

By following these you will successfully extract the Excel files and if you are having contacts in them then you can easily perform the Excel to vCard Conversion.

Conclusion

Throughout this blog, we have explored different approaches to tackle the issue of being unable to open Excel attachments in Outlook. By following the discussed methods and utilizing the recommended software, you can overcome the challenges posed by inaccessible Excel attachments in Outlook. To address these concerns, we introduced an effective solution – the Sysinfo Outlook Attachment Extractor Software – designed to extract your Excel files successfully and Print All Attachments in Outlook. Empowered with this knowledge and solution, you can now navigate through such obstacles with greater ease and efficiency.

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About The Author:

Simran Bhatia

Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.