Excel unexpectedly opens one or more files at startup

When you start Microsoft Excel, Excel unexpectedly automatically opens one or more files.

This issue may occur if either or both of the following conditions are true:

• The At startup, open all files in setting contains a path. Excel automatically opens all files in the folder that is specified.
• The related registry key is corrupted.

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order in which they are listed.

Method 1: Clear the Startup Folder Setting

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
2. Delete the contents of the At startup, open all files in box. Click OK.
3. Quit Excel, and then restart it.
   
   If the problem is not resolved, go to method 2.

Method 2: Modify the AltStartup Value in the Registry

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
   
   Excel 97
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel
   Excel 2000
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel
   Excel 2002
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel
   Excel 2003
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel
   On the File menu, click Export. Verify that the registry key in step 2 is listed in the Selected branch box.
3. In the Save in box, click My Documents, type ExcelRegistryKey in the File name box, and then click Save.
   
   This creates a backup of the registry key in case you have to restore it in the future.
4. Locate and then click the following registry key:
   
   Excel 97
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel\Options
   Excel 2000
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel\Options
   Excel 2002
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel\Options
   Excel 2003
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options
5. In the right pane, double-click AltStartup, delete the contents of the Value data box, and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.
7. Start Excel.
   
   If the problem is not resolved, go to method 3.

Method 3 - Remove the Excel Key from the Registry

Note This method restores all Excel user settings that are stored in the registry to their default settings.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
   
   Excel 97
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel
   Excel 2000
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel
   Excel 2002
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Excel
   Excel 2003
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel
3. On the Edit menu, click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
4. Quit Registry Editor.
5. Start Excel.

For more information about how to troubleshoot startup problems in Excel, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: