Force file extension to match file type

This policy setting controls how Excel loads file types that do not match their extension. Excel can load files with extensions that do not match the files' type. For example, if a comma-separated values (CSV) file named example.csv is renamed example.xls (or any other file extension supported by Excel 2003 and earlier only), Excel can properly load it as a CSV file.

If you enable this policy setting, you can choose from three options for working with files that have non-matching extensions:

- Allow different - Excel opens the files properly without warning users that the files have non-matching extensions. If users subsequently edit and save the files, Excel preserves both the true, underlying file format and the incorrect file extension.

- Allow different, but warn - Excel opens the files properly, but warns users about the file type mismatch. This option is the default configuration in Excel.

- Always match file type - Excel does not open any files that have non-matching extensions.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, if users attempt to open files with the wrong extension, Excel opens the file and displays a warning that the file type is not what Excel expected.

Supported on: At least Windows 7




  1. Allow different
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\excel\security
    Value Nameextensionhardening
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. Allow different, but warn
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\excel\security
    Value Nameextensionhardening
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1
  3. Always match file type
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\excel\security
    Value Nameextensionhardening
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value2


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