[Office 365] "Book.xltx" Excel template - Can't load it by default on Excel's startup

Hi guys, a lot of people on the Internet seem to be having this problem, with no solution in sight.

I have followed some tutos on that matter (e.g. Default Templates in Excel ), but I can't seem to make this work.

I have created a "Book.xltx" Excel template, and I have stored it in XLSTART folder.

Well, there are actually two XLSTART folders (I have tried storing the "Book.xltx" template in both of them):

• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART
• C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

No matter what I do, Excel keeps on starting without loading the "Book.xltx" template.

For the record I have disabled the "Recent documents" option. I hope that's not the cause of the issue.
I have also tried disabling Excel's startup screen. Doesn't change anything: it starts directly into a workbook, but it doesn't use the template.

Is there something else I should do? Could somebody help me with this? Thanks in advance!

Don't have a solution but as a test do you have the same issue with a Book.xlsx file? Not sure about the "For the record I have disabled the "Recent documents" option" part but may have an effect.

I have checked my MSOffice 2021 and I can confirm that
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART
is the correct folder for Book.xltx [or Book.xltm].
It is also the correct folder for Sheet.xltx [or Sheet.xltm] - this is the one that governs the format of sheets created when you click on the + at the bottom of the row of sheet names.
I have never used that AppData folder you mentioned. I have one but it is empty.

If there is nothing too private in your template, post it and I'll substitute yours for mine to make sure it works as expected.
You'll have to tell me something to look for to know that it has loaded correctly.


If this matter is not resolved quickly, re-post in the TenForums MSOffice section because lots of Office users live there. ElevenForum does not have an MSOffice section.
the TenForums MSOffice section



Got to dash,
Denis

---

Welcome to ElevenForum.

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Hey @Try3 , here's the template (attached zip archive).
It's a dark mode template, where all cells have a dark background, white borders, and white text.
It's in the right place as you can see (attached pic), but there's no way to have it load automatically on Excel startup.
Double-clicking on it works, of course.

Jose,

I copied Book.xltx into place
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART
then ran my Excel 2021 [by opening Excel normally, not by double-clicking on your file] and your template loaded correctly




Denis

Jose,

You can check your XLStart path:-
Excel,
File Menu,
Options,
Trust centre,
Trusted locations,
Excel default locations: Excel startup



Incidentally, you'll also notice that AppData entry you mentioned before.
I suppose that Excel startup is where a company IT manager would put the corporate templates on every computer and User startup is where a user would put others for individual use on that computer.

The file worked for me when adding random numbers, Microsoft 365 Excel.

While you're checking things, this would not be a waste of time:-
That item [a folder path] should normally be empty. Any non-Excel files in that folder could cause problems and I suppose that might stop templates loading [but I've never experimented with that item].


Denis

Thanks! OK, I've checked everything:

• The Trusted Locations are OK
• The "At startup, open all files in" location is empty as it should.

Could this be a Windows rights issue? Maybe Excel isn't allowed to access that XLSTART folder and thus can't load the file on startup?
With that said, running Excel as Admin doesn't change anything, so...

Jose Hidalgo said:

Could this be a Windows rights issue? Maybe Excel isn't allowed to access that XLSTART folder and thus can't load the file on startup?

Click to expand...

You can disprove that thought by double-clicking on the xltx whilst it's in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART

I suggest
Repair an Office application - MSSupport

Otherwise, I think it's time to re-post. You'll find a lot more Office users there so hopefully somebody will be able to help you solve this problem.

Try3 said:

If this matter is not resolved quickly, re-post in the TenForums MSOffice section because lots of Office users live there. ElevenForum does not have an MSOffice section.
the TenForums MSOffice section

Click to expand...

Do search that section first in case the problem has already been reported & [hopefully] solved.
In your new thread, do include @Try3 in the text so I get notified.
And do include a link to it back here so anybody watching this thread can jump across to watch the new one.
Do include a note that you've reposted from ElevenForum and that you have repeated all the relevant information.
I suggest that you report that:-
1 Excel seems to run correctly in all other respects.
2 Excel fails to load a template Book.xltx in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART even though you can load that template correctly by double-clicking on the file whilst it's in that location. [Include your diagram of Book.xltx & Sheet.xltx so you won't waste time with people asking if you also have .xltm files in there.
3 You had somebody else put that Book.xltx in their Excel 2021 & Excel 2007, XLStart folders and it loaded correctly in both Versions. And you could attach that [zipped] Book.xltx to your post so others can try it there. And, just to avoid unproductive responses asking about Sheet.xltx***, include that in the zip file. Tell them Book.xltx is black with white borders & text. And tell then that Sheet.xltx has this particular property (I don't know what it is yet as you have not mentioned anything about it).
4 You have checked Excel Options, Trust centre to make sure that C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLSTART is the correct Excel default locations: Excel startup path & that the At startup, open all files in folder entry is empty.
5 You have run Repair an Office application - MSSupport
6 And include a history of your Excel - how long you have had Excel, whether or not you have used templates in XLStart or elsewhere before, any previous Excel problems, ....

*** It has just occurred to me that you did not post Sheet.xltx. Please do so and I'll try using it to check it. You'll have to tell me what to look for in it.


Best of luck,
Denis

I've finished fiddling with post #10.


Denis

Thanks a lot Denis! Will do

There's nothing about Sheet.xltx. I do not need it. I just created it to see if it would make a difference vs. Book.xltx. I can delete it right away.

Jose Hidalgo said:

I can delete it right away

Click to expand...

I suggest you don't. Its absence might make people waste time asking about it.

Here are mine. I tested them in Excel 2021 & Excel 2007. They are nothing special.
- My Book.xltx makes all new workbooks have 3 blank sheets.
- My Sheet.xltx makes all new sheets have cells that are Calibri 12 pt font, left-aligned, top-aligned.
I expect that they will fail to load just like yours because I do not think yours has any errors. I think your problem is an Excel fault not a fault in your file.
Denis Book-Sheet xltx files.zip

I still hope Office repair will resolve matters,
Denis

I can confirm that I have the same issue with your own files. It seems to be Excel's fault.
Let's hope for Office repair or help from Ten Forums.

Jose,

You didn't tell me you had errors with other applications.
This Book.xltx problem might just be another symptom of the same fault for all we know.


Denis