Excel File Corrupted

To recover a corrupted Excel file, you can try the following methods:

1. Open and Repair:
   • Start Excel and go to File > Open.
   • Locate the corrupted file, select it, and then click on the Open menu at the bottom of the window.
   • Choose Open and Repair. This option attempts to repair the damage to the file and then opens it.
2. Change File Format and Resave:
   • Open Excel and select File > Open to locate the damaged file.
   • Once opened, go to File > Save as and choose a different format, like Rich Text Format (RTF).
   • Save the file, then reopen it and save it back as an Excel file.
3. Reduce Character Count:
   • If the file name or folder path is too long, try renaming the file or moving it to a folder with a shorter path.
4. Check for Add-ins:
   • Sometimes, Excel add-ins can cause issues. Disable them by going to File > Options > Add-Ins and manage them accordingly.
5. Manual Recovery: If none of the above methods work, you might need to consult a Microsoft Support Engineer for further assistance, as they can help with more complex recovery processes, though they cannot guarantee complete recovery of all corrupted files.

References:

• Support Engineers can't guarantee complete repair of all corrupted Office files
• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document

Hi, David Roy

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Sorry for this frustrating experience that you're having. Here are some workarounds you can try to resolve this issue:

Restore Previous Versions (Cloud Storage)

If the file is in OneDrive or SharePoint:

• Sign in to OneDrive via a browser.
• Locate the file, right-click, and select Version History.
• Download or restore an earlier version that worked.
• For Microsoft 365 subscribers, you can also use Restore your OneDrive to roll back all changes from the last 30 days.

If the file is in iCloud:

• Open Files app on iPhone or iCloud.com.
• Check Recently Deleted or restore from an iCloud backup.
• If the file path changed, open it directly from iCloud Drive instead of using “Recent Files” in Excel.

Try External References

• Create a new blank workbook.
• In cell A1, type: ='[CorruptedFile.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1
• Press Enter, then copy and paste values to retrieve raw data.

Use AutoRecover or Backup

• Check File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
• Enable AutoRecover and Always create backup for future protection.

Advanced Options

• Temporarily set Calculation Options to Manual before opening.

Hope this helps. Feel free to get back if you need further assistance.

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Hi David Roy

It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue.

Have you had a chance to check the replies provided?

Any update would be appreciated.