How to Open Excel Files in New Windows

This tutorial demonstrates how to open Excel files in new windows.

 

excel windows side by side

 

Task Bar Icon

One way to open a new instance of Excel to right-click on the Excel icon in the task bar.

 

excel windows start button

 

Right-click on the Excel icon and then click on Excel in the menu.

 

excel windows backstage

 

A new instance of Excel opens, showing the backstage view. Click on Blank workbook to open a blank workbook, or click Open to open a file of your choice.

Start Menu Icon

Select the Start button, scroll down to the E section of the menu and then select Excel.

 

excel windows start menu

 

A new instance of Excel opens showing the backstage view.

Desktop Shortcut

You can open a new instance of Excel from a shortcut on your desktop. If you do not have a shortcut to Excel on your desktop, you can create one.

  1. With Excel open, press CTRL + ALT + DEL on the keyboard.
  2. Click on the Task Manager.

 

excel windows ctlaltdel

 

  1. Right-click on the Excel instance to obtain a shortcut menu.

 

excel windows task manager

 

  1. Click Open file location.

 

excel window create shortcut

 

  1. Right-click on EXCEL.EXE and select Desktop (create shortcut) from the Send to menu.

 

excel window desktop shortcut

 

A shortcut to Excel is created on the desktop.

  1. Double-click on the shortcut to open a new instance of Excel.

View New Window

You can also create a new window within the current instance of Excel.

In the Ribbon, select View > New Window.

 

excel window new window

 

In the title bar, you can see that the same book has a new window opened twice.

 

excel window 2 windows

 

When you type in one window, the information appears in both windows. This is very useful to view two different sections of a single sheet or two different sheets of a workbook at the same time, especially for larger workbooks.