Force Excel to open in separate windows

Until its 2010 version, Excel default behavior was to open all spreadsheets in a single window. Happily, there is a way to force your spreadsheets to automatically open in different windows. This way you can freely manipulate them around your monitor and work side-by-side.

Steps below will teach you how to do it. Let’s go!

This post is a short version of How to force Microsoft Excel to open files in new window, published by Ashraf in January 2012. For all the great content, non-trivial tricks, and beautiful images, thanks Ashraf. For the bad stuff, you can gently blame me.

Understand the risks

To force this new behavior in Excel, we’ll need to modify your registry files. There are basically two requirements for that: (1) administrator access to your computer, otherwise you won’t be able to edit registry entries; and (2) attention, care, prudence, ‘ cause any mistake while touching your registry files might break your machine into small pieces (OK, I’m exagerating, but I’m warning you anyways). So I suggest you to accept it as a risky move and face the consequences at your own responsibility.

Modifying your registry files

• Close all open Excel windows, if any
• Press <Win+R> on your keyboard…