How to Open a New Excel Workbook:

You want to start working on a new Excel file, but you are not sure where to begin.

There are several ways to open a new Excel workbook.

You can create one from the Windows desktop, open Excel from the Start menu, or simply search for Excel on your computer.

If you already have Excel open, you can also create a new workbook from inside Excel.

In this guide, let’s see the different ways to open a new Excel workbook step by step.

What Is an Excel Workbook?

Before we start, let’s quickly understand what a workbook means.

An Excel workbook is the Excel file you work with. It can contain one or more worksheets.

For example:

• Sales Report.xlsx → Workbook
• Sheet1,sheet2,sheet3 → Worksheets inside the workbook

When you create a new workbook, Excel gives you a blank file where you can start entering your data.

Method 1: Create a New Excel Workbook From the Desktop

If you are on the Windows desktop and want to create a new Excel file, Follow these steps:

1. Go to your Windows desktop.
2. Right-click on an empty area.
3. Select New from the options.
4. Choose Microsoft Excel Worksheet.
5. A new Excel file will be created on your desktop.
6. Double-click the file to open it.

You can now start entering your data in the new workbook.

Method 2: Open Excel From the Start Menu:

You can also open Excel from the Windows Start menu.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Find Microsoft Excel in the list of installed apps.
3. Click Excel.
4. Excel will open.

Depending on your Excel version, you may see the Home or Start screen first.

From there, choose Blank workbook to start a new Excel file.

Method 3: Use the Windows Search Bar

If you cannot find Excel in the Start menu, the Windows Search bar is usually the quickest option.

1. Click the Search box on the Windows taskbar.

2. Type Excel.

3. Click Microsoft Excel from the search results.

4. Excel will open.

5. Select Blank workbook to create a new workbook.

That’s it. You can now start working on your new Excel file.

Method 4: Create a New Workbook From an Open Excel File:

If Excel is already open and you are working on another workbook, you don’t need to close it.

You can create a new workbook directly from Excel.

Go to:

File → New → Blank workbook

or

Use Ctrl + N

Excel will open a new blank workbook.

You can press Ctrl + N again if you want to create another new workbook.

For example:

Ctrl + N → New workbook

Ctrl + N → Another new workbook

This is one of the easiest Excel keyboard shortcuts to remember.

Your current workbook will remain open, so you can switch between the two files whenever you need.

Where Is the New Workbook Saved?

When you create a new workbook, Excel does not automatically save it to a permanent folder with a useful file name.

You need to save it when you are ready.

Press this Excel keyboard shortcut:

Ctrl + S

Then choose the folder where you want to save the file and enter a file name.

For example:

Monthly Expenses.xlsx

Tip: Save your workbook soon after creating it, especially if you are entering important data. This helps avoid losing your work if something goes wrong.

Which Method Should You Use?

All of these methods create a new Excel workbook, but some are quicker depending on what you are doing.

Method	Best for
Desktop → Right-click → New	Creating an Excel file directly from the desktop
Start Menu	Opening Excel from Windows
Windows Search	Quickly finding Excel
File → New → Blank workbook	Creating a workbook when Excel is already open

If Excel is already open, Ctrl + N is usually the quickest option.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I open a new Excel workbook?

You can open Excel and select Blank workbook. You can also create one from the Windows desktop or use Ctrl + N when Excel is already open.

What is the shortcut to create a new workbook in Excel?

Press Ctrl + N to create a new workbook, If Excel is already open.

Does creating a new workbook close my current workbook?

No. If you create a new workbook while another workbook is open, the current workbook remains open.

What is the difference between a workbook and a worksheet?

A workbook is the Excel file, while a worksheet is an individual sheet inside the workbook.

For example, Sales Report.xlsx can be a workbook containing worksheets such as January, February, and March.

Final Thoughts:

There are several ways to open a new Excel workbook.

You can create one directly from the Windows desktop, open Excel from the Start menu, use the Windows Search bar, or create a new workbook from inside Excel.

And if you are already working in Excel, remember this simple shortcut:

Ctrl + N = New Workbook

Once you get used to it, creating a new Excel workbook takes just a couple of seconds.

Video Tutorial: