How to Repair a Corrupted Excel File That Won’t Open

If you’re faced with a corrupted Excel file that won’t open, don’t panic. There are several methods you can try to repair the file and recover your data. Here’s how to get started:

Open and Repair

Use the Built-in Excel Repair Tool

Click File > Open.
Select the corrupted workbook.
Click the arrow next to the Open button and then click Open and Repair.
Choose the Repair option to recover as much of the workbook data as possible.

Revert to a Previous Version

Restore a Backup of the Corrupted File

If you have a backup of the file, try opening the backup version.
You can also check for previous versions of the file saved by Excel’s AutoRecover feature.
To access AutoRecover files, click File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

Link to External References

Recover Data from a Corrupted Workbook

Open a new blank workbook in Excel.
In the new workbook, type the following formula in cell A1: =Filename!A1

Replace “Filename” with the name of the corrupted file.

Click OK to link the corrupted file.
Select the data range in the linked file and copy it to the new workbook.

Use a Repair Tool

Recover Corrupted Excel Files with Third-Party Software

If the built-in repair tools don’t work, consider using a dedicated Excel repair tool like Wondershare Repairit or Stellar Repair for Excel.
These tools can often recover data from severely corrupted Excel files.

Remember, the key to successfully repairing a corrupted Excel file is to act quickly and try multiple methods if the first one doesn’t work. With the right approach, you can often recover your important data.