How do I keep Excel open in the background?

**arvn** · 03-01-2022, 07:24 PM

Hello,

I don't like waiting for Excel to load. I want the application to stay open, even if I close the window.

Some other Microsoft applications, like Microsoft Teams, do not truly quit when you close the window. Instead, if you close the window, then the application will close to to the Windows tray icon. To fully exit the application, you need to exit from the icon in the tray or from task manager. In other words, the application runs in the background even if you appear to quit it.

Is there some way to make Microsoft Excel behave the same? I have looked through the settings, but didn't find anything. I have searched Google and forums. It seems like most people who are interested in keeping Excel open in the background are doing so in the context of developing a script.

Much appreciated

**Logit** · 03-02-2022, 12:27 PM

Couldn't you just minimize the workbook ?

**arvn** · 03-02-2022, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Logit

Couldn't you just minimize the workbook ?

Thanks for response.

I could, but...

Sometimes I have noticed issues where I'm looking at the Excel workbook in Excel online and the Excel workbook in the desktop application simultaneously. So sometimes I'm in situations where I want to close the workbook in Excel desktop, and only look at it in Excel online. When I want to do this, this involves closing Excel entirely, then booting it back up again, or creating a new temporary worksheet. It's just annoying.

The more common problem is that my muscle memory kills the window by pressing the hotkey to close the window which closes the app entirely.

Regardless, sure, I *could* do something different to work around it and my specific situation, but I think the general question has value