Microsoft Teams cannot open files in Desktop app in Windows 11

Microsoft Teams can open Office programs such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files right in the desktop app. The method to open files in Microsoft Teams is simple; all you need to do is to select the file you want to view and then click on the “Open desktop app” option, but unfortunately, sometimes Teams cannot open Office files.

What is the reason Teams cannot open files on the desktop app?

If Teams cannot open files on your desktop app, maybe you are not using the correct protocol settings, so ensure that it is accurate.

Teams cannot open files in the Desktop app

If Microsoft Teams cannot open Office files in the Desktop app, follow the solutions below.

1. Check your Url Settings
2. Run Disk Cleanup
3. Check for updates
4. Repair or Reset Teams
5. Uninstall and Reinstall Teams

1] Check your Url Settings

When opening files in the desktop app, Teams uses the URL protocol to open compatible Office app. To check your URL protocol, follow the steps below.

Type Microsoft Teams in the Search bar.

Then click App Settings on the right or right-click the Teams app and select App Settings.

Scroll down to Default and click Set Default apps.

Click any of the Microsoft Office apps under the section “Set defaults for applications”.

On the next window select a default app by a protocol for instance Url: Excel Protocol

A message box will appear, asking how do you want to open this?

Click OK.

If the problem continues, follow the solution below.

2] Run Disk Cleanup

To run a disk cleanup follow the steps below.

Type Disk Cleanup in the search bar.

Then select the drive where Teams is located.

 

Clear the Temporary internet files then click OK.

If the issue persists follow the other solution below.

3. Check for Teams updates

Maybe the Microsoft Teams apps want to be updated. To check for updates, follow the steps below.

Launch Teams.

Click on the three dots beside your profile picture and select Settings on the menu.

Then on the bottom left on the next screen click About Teams.

On the next screen, the updates will appear under the Version section, if there are any.

4] Repair or Reset Teams

To Repair or Reset Teams follow the steps below.

Type Microsoft Teams in the Search bar.

Then click App Settings on the right.

Scroll down to the Reset section and click the  Repair button to repair teams, the app data won’t be affected.

Below the repair button is the Reset button click on it to reset teams. When you click the reset button the app data will be deleted.

If the issue persists follow the other solution below.

5] Uninstall and Reinstall Teams

If none of the above solutions works, the only option is to uninstall and reinstall Teams. To reinstall Teams, follow the steps below.

Type Teams into the search bar.

Right-click Teams and select Uninstall.

The other method is to open Settings.

On the Setting interface click Apps on the left pane.

Then click Apps and Features on the right.

Scroll down until you see Microsoft Teams, click the dots beside it and select Uninstall.

Then restart your computer and download the app again.

After reinstalling Teams, log into your account to see if you can open your files on the Microsoft Teams desktop.

We hope this tutorial helps Microsoft Teams open files in the Desktop app.