How to Repair Corrupted Excel File in 4 Ways

Encountering a corrupt Excel file is a common issue many users face, particularly with complex workbooks. However, there's no need to worry as there are many ways to repair corrupted Excel files or at least retrieve the essential data. 

In this article, we will explore the various reasons behind Excel file corruption and provide a range of solutions for repairing your corrupted Excel workbook, whether it's through online or offline methods. 

On top of that, we'll share valuable tips to help you prevent corrupt Excel files from occurring in the future. Let's get straight into it!

Excel File Corruption Overview

Understanding the causes of file corruption is important to enable you to repair corrupted Excel files.

In this section, we'll dive into the details of Excel file corruption, providing insights into the possible causes and the signs that your Excel file may be corrupted. These include:

• 🦠Malware or virus intrusions: Excel files are prone to corruption or unauthorized modifications due to attacks from malicious software, resulting in potential data loss or unavailability.
• 🖥️Errors in software or system: Unplanned crashes or system errors within Excel or the operating system can instigate file corruption.
• 🔋Sudden power interruptions: Unexpected power outages while saving or working on an Excel file can cause data loss and eventual file corruption.
• 💻Hardware malfunctions: Complications with crucial components like the hard drive, RAM, or other hardware elements can trigger data corruption, rendering Excel files inaccessible.

Fix 1. Repair Corrupted Excel Files with File Repair Software 

If your file is unreadable, garbled, or not opening, the best way to fix it is by applying a professional file repair software like EaseUS Fixo Document Repair. This powerful tool is designed to help you recover and restore corrupted Excel files effectively. You can click the following button to download this repair tool safely.

Whether your Excel file got corrupted due to a system crash, abrupt closure, or any other reason, the EaseUS Excel repair tool provides a reliable solution. 

It is an advanced tool capable of fixing highly damaged XLS and XLSX files, recovering all content from the Excel workbook while preserving its original format. It can also repair the corrupted Excel files to resolve Excel running slow.

Whether it's a corrupted PowerPoint, PDF, Excel, or Word file, this versatile software is here to assist in repair. EaseUS Fixo can resolve Microsoft Word won't open, Excel not showing worksheets, PDF shows 0kb, etc.

Proceed to the following instructions for a straightforward process to fix your corrupted Excel files.

Step 1. Download and launch Fixo on your PC or laptop. Choose "File Repair" to repair corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and others. Click "Add Files" to select corrupted documents.

Step 2. To repair multiple files at once, click the "Repair All" button. If you want to repair a single document, move your pointer to the target file and choose "Repair". You can also preview the documents by clicking the eye icon.

Step 3. Click "Save" to save a selected document. Select "Save All" to save all the repaired files. Choose "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

Remember to share this helpful guide with your friends and colleagues to help them repair corrupted Excel files.

Fix 2. Repair Damaged Excel Worksheets with Open and Repair 

Microsoft Excel has a built-in option called "Open and Repair", and this utility can help you repair corrupt Excel files directly. Besides the written tutorial, we have also provided a detailed video to help you solve the issue of Excel file corruption with ease:

• 00:52 Open "Excel".
• 01:00 Open a blank document.
• 01:08 Click "File." Under open, click "Browse" and choose your file.
• 01:27 Use the Open and Repair option.

Microsoft Excel won't open? Now, you can follow the steps below to repair Excel files with Open and Repair:

Step 1. Begin by creating a new Excel file and navigating to "File".

Step 2. Click "Open".

Step 3. Locate the corrupted Excel file.

Step 4. Choose the corrupted Excel file and click "Open" from the drop-down menu. Opt for "Open and Repair".

Step 5. Select "Repair".

Step 6. If "Repair" doesn't restore the corrupted Excel file, opt for "Extract Data".

Step 7. Save your file. After the repaired file opens, press "Ctrl+S," double-click "This PC," and choose a save location; for this case, our file location is "Documents".

Step 8. Input a new file name, and click "Save".

Ensure the file name you select differs from the one you used for the corrupted Excel file to avoid data overwritten. Microsoft Word also has this option, and you can also open and repair Word with this Microsft Office built-in utility.

Fix 3. Change the Excel Files' File Extension

First, you need to understand the significance of file types. Occasionally, Excel files created on older systems or versions of Excel may encounter stability issues on newer versions. Additionally, Excel allows saving files in various formats.

To address this, modifying the Excel file format to "xlsx" (or "xls" for older versions) can resolve this matter.

Here's the tutorial on how to change the Excel files' file extension:

Step 1. Access the "Start menu". Click on the "Windows icon" in the screen's lower-left corner.

Step 2. Open "File Explorer". Select the folder-shaped icon located in the lower-left area of the Start window.

Step 3. Navigate to the "View tab". Locate this tab at the top of the "File Explorer" window, triggering the appearance of a toolbar below it.

Step 4. Enable "File name extensions". This function is within the "Show/hide" segment of the toolbar.

Step 5. Choose your Excel file. Navigate to the location of the desired Excel document, then click to select it.

Step 6. Access the "Home tab". Positioned at the upper-left area of the "File Explorer" window, clicking on it will initiate the toolbar display.

Step 7. Opt for "Rename". You'll find this option within the "Organize" section of the toolbar.

Step 8. Modify the file type. Replace everything after the period at the end of the file name with "xlsx" and hit "Enter." If the file extension is already "xlsx," attempt using "xls" or "HTML".

Step 9. Confirm the change by selecting "Yes" when prompted.

Step 10. Test file accessibility. Double-click on the file to open it. If the file launches in Excel (or where you chose "html" as the extension in a web browser), your file has been successfully recovered.

Note: Change file extension can help you repair the file when Excel cannot open the file because the File format or file extension is not valid. Share this simple method to help other users solve Excel corruption now!

Fix 4. Repair Microsoft Office

If Excel cannot open the corrupted workbook, you can utilize the Microsoft Office Tool to repair the XLSX file.

Use these steps to execute the repair:

Step 1. Access "All Programs" via the "Start menu".

Step 2. Navigate to "Microsoft Office"> "Microsoft Office Tools".

Step 3. Select "Microsoft Office Application Recovery".

Step 4. A dialog box will appear. If that happens, choose "Microsoft Office Excel".

Step 5. Select "Recover Application". This process may take a few minutes.

Step 6. Respond to the "Send Report To Microsoft prompt".

The tool will close the Excel file, restart it, and display the list of restored Excel workbooks.

🌟Bonus Tip: Prevent Excel Workbook Corruption

Repairing damaged or corrupted Excel files is straightforward when equipped with the right tools.

However, to prevent encountering such issues altogether, consider sticking to these guidelines if you don't want to perform file repair in the future.

1. Keep Microsoft Excel Updated

Regularly update your Microsoft Excel software to the latest version, incorporating patches and updates.

These updates often contain bug fixes and enhancements that bolster the program's stability, minimizing the risk of file corruption.

2. Use Trusted Add-ins

Exercise caution when integrating plugins or add-ins into your MS Excel application, ensuring they originate from reputable publishers.

3. Employ File Scans

Use reliable anti-malware software on your system and conduct periodic scans of your Excel documents and their storage locations.

4. Handle Files Properly

Adopt appropriate file-handling practices, such as refraining from shutting down or restarting your system while an Excel document is in use.

5. Avoid Public Networks

You should always avoid connecting your devices to public networks or inserting USB drives into public computers, as these actions can jeopardize the safety of your files.

Have you successfully repaired the corrupt Excel file using the methods outlined above? Feel free to share this page on social media platforms to help others repair corrupted Excel files.

Repair Corrupted Excel Files FAQs

Below are some questions and answers to help you learn more about how to repair corrupted Excel files. Take a look:

1. How to recover a corrupt Excel file for free?

To fix a corrupted Excel file without any charges, follow these steps:

Step 1. Navigate to "File"> "Open." Choose the folder and location of the corrupted workbook.

Step 2. Within the "Open window," pick the corrupted Excel file.

Step 3. Click the down arrow next to the "Open button," then select "Open and Repair." Alternatively, you can choose "Repair" to retrieve Excel data.

2. Can I use the Open and Repair option to repair damaged Excel files?

Yes, the Open and Repair option can help you fix corrupted Excel files. Here's how to use it:

Step 1. Within the desktop app, go to "File"> "Open" and opt for the folder where the file is located.

Step 2. Once you select your desired file, expand the "Open" button by clicking the downward arrow and opt for the "Open and Repair" choice.

Step 3. A dialog box will prompt, asking if you wish to repair the file or extract the data. Click on "Repair".

Step 4. Excel will notify you of any identified issues and seek confirmation for recovery. Click "Yes" to confirm.

Step 5. After the attempt, your repaired file will open, presenting a summary of the repairs with a link to a detailed log of the process.

3. What is EaseUS Fixo Document Repair?

EaseUS Fixo Document Repair is a dependable file repair program that can save significant time and quickly address challenging file problems. For users not proficient in computer technology, it's advisable to download this tool. EaseUS Fixo Document Repair is crafted to address users' corruption concerns. This software can assist in repairs, whether it's a corrupted Excel, PowerPoint, Word, or PDF file. It effectively repairs multiple Excel formats such as .xltm, .xltx, .xlsm, and .xlsx files, addressing unrecognizable formats, unreadable content, and other corruption errors.

4. What should I do if the recovered Excel gets corrupted?

If your recovered file gets corrupted, you need to repair it. How to repair corrupted files after recovery? First, tap "File"> "Open." Choose the folder and location of the corrupted workbook. From the "Open dialog" box, choose the corrupted workbook. After doing that, tap the arrow next to the "Open button" and opt for "Open and Repair."

Conclusion 

Malware intrusion, abrupt system shutdowns, or unforeseen events can corrupt Excel files. This can be concerning given the extensive reliance on Excel for business operations. Enabling automatic backup while working on Microsoft Excel is highly recommended. It acts as a safety net to restore accidental deletions or corruptions from the backup. 

However, if you're struggling with a corrupted Excel sheet, this post outlines several approaches to recover your files. 

If these methods prove ineffective, you can depend on EaseUs Fixo Document Repair software to repair corrupted files. This software allows you to repair files in batch and preview repaired files.