Use an Alternate Startup Folder

We know that Excel always opens up all the files in its XLStartup folder. What if you want to open all the files in some other folder along with start-up folder files? Yes. You guessed it correct, Excel provides that functionality too. Follow the sequence below to get this.

Excel 2010 and later:

File tab > Options > Advanced tab > scroll all the way down to see General segment > Enter path of the folder you want in At startup, open all files in > OK.

Excel 2007:

Click the Microsoft Office button > Excel Options > Advanced tab > scroll all the way down to see General segment > Enter path of the folder you want in At startup, open all files in > OK.

Excel 2003:

Tools menu > Options > General tab > Enter path of the folder you want in At startup, open all files in > OK.

Points to remember:

• Excel will attempt to open every file in the alternate startup folder, make sure you specify an empty folder or a folder that contains only files that Excel can open.
• If a file with the same name is in both the XLStart folder and the alternate startup folder, the file in the XLStart folder opens.