This is a classic example of a problem that feels bigger than it is, and a workaround that shouldn't have to be one. The user reports that Excel opens but remains hidden on the taskbar, requiring a manual maximize to view the window. That's not a broken spreadsheet; it's a broken window state. And while the maximize trick gets the job done, it's not a solution. It's a symptom of something deeper that Microsoft has yet to fully address.
The real issue here is that Excel is remembering a corrupted or off-screen window position. This typically happens when a user has previously used a multi-monitor setup, docked a laptop, or experienced a display resolution change. The application saves that last known coordinates, and when it tries to reopen within those bounds, on a screen that no longer exists or at a resolution that doesn't match, it effectively renders itself invisible. The fact that a repair and reinstall didn't fix it confirms that the problem lives in the user's profile settings, not the application files.
For IT admins and power users, the practical fix involves clearing Excel's registry settings for window placement. Specifically, deleting the `Placement` key under `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options` forces Excel to rebuild its window state from scratch on next launch. Alternatively, holding the `Alt` key while clicking the taskbar icon and selecting "Move" lets users arrow-key the window back into view without registry edits. That second method works for the individual user without admin rights.
What this tells us is that legacy spreadsheet tools still treat window management as an afterthought, a small but persistent friction that undermines trust in the tool. Users shouldn't need to hunt through Reddit threads or registry editors just to see their data. A tool that claims to empower productivity should handle display changes gracefully, not hide itself in a digital corner. Until Microsoft addresses this at the application level, the workaround remains the only reliable path. And that's a reminder that even foundational tools have room to evolve.