- Open both books and press View → View side by side.
- Choose Arrange all → Vertical to see one on each side.
- Activate Synchronous Scrolling to move both sheets at the same time.
- Use New window to view two tabs of the same file.
You have the data in one Excel file and the report in another. Every time you want to check an amount, you switch windows and search for the row again. If you're going to review several figures, you can View both Excel files side by side and leave the sheet you need from each one visible.
In Excel desktop for Windows, the option is in View → View side by sideIf the files appear one on top of the other, the setting Organize everything → Vertical Place one on the left and one on the right. And if the data is in two tabs of the same workbook, you can open a second window of that file.
How to view two Excel files side by side
Open the two books you want to consult. If one contains several sheets, you can choose the tab you're interested in after arranging the windows.
- Open the first file and, from that same Excel window, use File → Open to open the second one.
- In either book, go to the tab View.
- Find the group Window and press View side by side.
- If the box appears Compare side by sideSelect the other book and press AcceptExcel displays that box when more than two workbooks are open.
- In each window, select the sheet you want to view.
If Excel places one window above and another below, it enters View → Organize allselect Vertical and press AcceptIf you have other books open and only want to place two, you can close them first or use the Windows shortcuts shown below.
When you're finished, press again. View side by side To exit that view. If you resized the windows and want to restore their original layout while continuing to compare, use Reset window position on the View tab.
How to move both Excel sheets at the same time
With View side by side active, check that it is selected Synchronous displacement In the Window group on the View tab. When you scroll through one sheet, Excel will move the other one at the same time. This is useful, for example, if you are reviewing two lists of invoices sorted by the same number.
If a listing has an additional title row, the first invoice might be in row 3 of one book and row 4 of the other. In that case, momentarily disables synchronous scrollingswipe through each window to the first invoice you want to review and reactivate it.
If one table has different filters or includes records that are missing from the other, check the invoice number, product code, or identifier Before comparing each amount, the scrolling synchronizes the movement of the windows. You decide which records correspond to each other.
How to view two sheets of the same Excel workbook at the same time
Imagine you have a tab called Sales and another call Summary within the same file. With New window You can leave one sheet open in each window and consult both without constantly switching between tabs.
- Open the book and press View → New window.
- Select Sales in the first window and Summary in the second one.
- Go to View → Arrange all → Vertical to place them on the left and right. If you have other files open, mark Active book windows so that Excel organizes only those in that workbook.
- If you also want both sheets to move together, activate View side by sideSelect the other window of the same workbook if Excel prompts you to do so and check Synchronous displacement.
The file name may appear with the suffixes :1 y :2. Are two views of the same bookAny edits you make to one of them apply to that file, so press Keep If you have Autosave disabled, to continue with a single view, close the window you no longer need using the X in its upper right corner.
How to organize three or more Excel files
Open the books you want to see and enter View → Organize allLeave the box unchecked. Active book windows to include the windows of the different files.
- Mosaic. Distribute the space between the windows without overlapping them. This is the most practical option if you want to have three or four books in view.
- Horizontal. Place the windows one above the other. This gives you more width if the tables have many columns.
- Vertical. Place the windows side by side. Works well with two narrow listings and many rows.
- Waterfall. It overlaps windows and leaves their title bars visible so you can switch books with a click.
What to do if View Side by Side doesn't show the second file
If you have both workbooks open and Excel doesn't offer you the second one for comparison, they may be in independent bodiesSave the changes to the second book, close it, and reopen it with File → Open From the first window. Then, try again. View → View side by side.
If the two files have the exact same name and are in different folders, you can keep them in separate instances and place them side-by-side using Windows shortcuts. You can also save a copy with a different name if you need to open both within the same instance.
How to put an Excel file on each side of the screen in Windows
Select the first book and press Windows + Left ArrowIf Windows offers to fill the other side with open windows, choose the second book. You can also select it manually and press Enter. Windows + Right Arrow.
This method works if you only want to have both files visible. You can also use it with Excel for the web Opening each book in a separate browser window. Windows docking arranges the windows and each sheet retains its independent scrolling.
If you're working with two monitors, select the book you want to move and press Windows + Shift + Left or Right ArrowThis way you can leave a file on each screen.
Index
- 1 How to view two Excel files side by side
- 2 How to move both Excel sheets at the same time
- 3 How to view two sheets of the same Excel workbook at the same time
- 4 How to organize three or more Excel files
- 5 What to do if View Side by Side doesn't show the second file
- 6 How to put an Excel file on each side of the screen in Windows