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How to open multiple workbooks automatically in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

Do you find yourself frequently using certain Excel workbooks? There’s a convenient way to set up Excel so that these specific workbooks open automatically whenever you launch the program. This guide will show you how to configure settings in Excel to automatically open multiple workbooks, streamlining your workflow right from the start.

Automatically open workbooks by adding them to the XL Startup folder

Automatically open workbooks with Kutools for Excel


arrow blue right bubble Automatically open workbooks by adding them to the XL Startup folder

If you move a workbook to the XL Startup folder, this workbook will be opened automatically whenever you open an Excel workbook.

As usual, this XL Startup folder is located with the path of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\XLSTART .

Double-click the explorer to open it, and copy and paste this path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\XLSTART. Press the Enter key, then move the workbooks that you want to open automatically next time into the XL Startup folder. See screenshot:

copy and paste the path to the explorer

Then close the explorer, when you launch any Excel file, the workbooks in the XL Startup folder will be opened automatically.

Notes:
  • You can specify an alternate startup folder in addition to the XL Start folder, do the following:
    1. Click File > Options, in the Excel Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab in the left pane, scroll down to the General section, and enter the folder name that you want to automatically the Excel files in the At startup, open all files in box. See screenshot:
    2. steps to specify an alternate startup folder in addition to the XL Start folder

    3. Then click OK, when you start Excel, it automatically opens all workbooks in both the XL Start folders and the alternate folder that you specified.
  • If you don’t want to open these workbooks for a long time, you can remove the files from the XL Start folders and delete the file path from the At startup, open all files in the box..

arrow blue right bubble Automatically open workbooks with Kutools for Excel

If you have Kutools for Excel installed, its Auto Open Those Workbooks Next Time tool can help us automatically open multiple specified workbooks whenever you start the Excel program.

Kutools for Excel offers over 300 advanced features to streamline complex tasks, boosting creativity and efficiency. Itegarate with AI capabilities, Kutools automates tasks with precision, making data management effortless. Detailed information of Kutools for Excel...         Free trial...

1. Open the workbooks that you want to open them at once next time.

2. Click Kutools Plus > Workbook > Auto Open Those Workbooks Next Time. See screenshot:

3. In the Auto Open those Workbooks Next Time dialog box, all the opened workbooks are listed in the list box, select workbooks that you want to automatically open them in future. See screenshot:

select workbooks to be automatically open in the dialog box

4. Click OK. And all the specified workbooks will be opened automatically next time.

Notes:
  • The workbooks you need to open automatically must be saved, and they are opening in Excel.
  • Kutools for Excel's Auto Open Those Workbooks Next Time tool does not require users to move workbooks to a specific folder, and it supports automatically opening any workbooks no matter which folders they are in. Moreover, you can easily disable the auto opening by clicking Clear button. Click to know more about this Auto Open Those Workbooks Next Time feature.

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