

But this process can take a significant amount of time as you need to close and re-open the Excel application and the file continuously. You may be able to resolve the issue by closing all the open Excel files, closing the Excel application, and then re-opening the problematic file. Also, opening an Excel file may return an error message ‘file couldn’t open in protected view’. However, the Protected View feature sometimes prevents an Excel file from opening even if it is from a safe location. In that case, your Excel application won’t let you open the file to protect it against malware or virus attacks. For example, the file may be opened from an insecure Internet location or downloaded as an Outlook attachment from suspicious senders. An Excel file opens in Protected View if the file is from an unsafe location. Protected View is a feature in Microsoft Excel that opens a file in read-only mode while disabling the editing functions. How to Fix the Excel File Couldn’t Open in Protected View Error?.Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2016 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center -> Protected View "Open files on local Intranet UNC in Protected View" to "Enabled". HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\excel\security\protectedviewĬriteria: If the value DisableIntranetCheck is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Excel 2016 -> Excel Options -> Security -> Trust Center -> Protected View "Open files on local Intranet UNC in Protected View" is set to "Enabled". Microsoft Excel 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, files on Intranet UNC file shares do not open in Protected View if their UNC paths appear to be within the Internet zone. If you enable this policy setting, files on local Intranet UNC file shares open in Protected View if their UNC paths appear to be within the Internet zone. This policy setting lets you determine if files on local Intranet UNC file shares open in Protected View.
