.csv Files default to Excel 2011, not Excel 2016

I just updated to High Sierra. I am commonly given .csv files. I noticed in High Sierra, when I double click on the .csv file, Excel 2011 launches, not Excel 2016. It appears to be a security issue. When I do a Get Info, and change the Open With to Excel 2016, I get this message . . . “may22.csv can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer. Your security preferences allow installation of only apps from the App Store and identified developers."

I can "allow" this file to be opened by going through the security preferences . . . OK. But when I try to change all .csv files to open with Excel 2016, the preference reverts back to Excel 2011.

Any way to change this?

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Apr 3, 2018 9:27 AM

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35 replies

May 31, 2018 5:24 PM in response to Kurt Lang

I have Office 2011 and Mac 10.13 High Sierra and i could not open csv files on Microsoft Excel: the option to open is disabled.

How to open csv files on Microsoft Excel?

thanks.

May 31, 2018 6:17 PM in response to tatyana_pol

Actually,I could open csv file by clicking on it. But I could not open it from Excel, like File - open - it shows a disabled option. How to open csv file from Excel?

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,716 points

May 31, 2018 7:44 PM in response to tatyana_pol

No idea why .csv files would be grayed out from the Open dialogue box. Excel should be able to open them that way.

Steve Dutton Author

Level 2

378 points

Apr 4, 2018 2:59 AM in response to Kurt Lang

I updated my MacMini to High Sierra at home . . . same exact behavior: all .csv files are set to open in Excel 2011. If I change through Get Info for the file to Open With Excel 2016, I'm given the same security warning (as though it's a downloaded app).

Apr 4, 2018 2:44 PM in response to Steve Dutton

I figured it out! My .csv files were opening in Numbers and I had the same unidentified developer error message.

Here's how I fixed it on my High Sierra.

- Right click on the .csv file name and click Get Info. Or Command-I on the file name.

- In the pop up window, go to Open with:

- Select Microsoft Excel.app in the drop down list (or whatever program you want)

- Click Change All...

- Click Continue

- Double check with other .csv files.

Good luck!

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.csv Files default to Excel 2011, not Excel 2016