This article explains how you can recover and repair a damaged or corrupted Excel file. You can perform this procedure on both Windows and Mac systems. Read on to find out how.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Repair a Damaged File
Step 1. Use a computer with a Windows operating system
Unfortunately, the procedure for repairing a corrupt Excel file is only possible with the version of Excel for Windows systems.
If you are using a Mac, try referring to one of the other methods described in the article
Step 2. Launch the Excel application
It features a green icon with a white "X" inside.
Step 3. Choose the Open Other Workbooks option
It is located next to a folder icon in the lower left of the program window.
Step 4. Press the Browse button
It features a folder icon in the center of the page. This will bring up the "File Explorer" system window.
Step 5. Select the Excel file to be processed
Navigate to the folder where the corrupt file to be recovered is stored, then select it with the mouse to highlight it.
Step 6. Press the "Menu" button by clicking the icon
It features a black down arrow to the right of the button Open. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Choose the Open and Repair… option
It is one of the last items on the menu starting from the top.
If the function Open and restore … appears grayed out (i.e. not selectable), make sure the Excel file is selected, then try again. If the indicated option is still not usable, it means that the chosen file cannot be restored.
Step 8. When prompted, press the Reset button visible within the pop-up window that appeared
The Windows operating system will try to restore access to the indicated file.
If the option in question is not available, press the button Extract data, then choose the item Convert to values or Retrieve formulas. In this way all the data still available in the indicated file will be extracted and recovered.
Step 9. Wait for the file to open
This step may take several minutes to complete, especially if there is a lot of data in the file.
If you still cannot access the selected file, repeat the restore procedure but choose the option when prompted Extract data rather than Reset.
Step 10. Save the file
When data access has been restored, then the contents of the file are visible within Excel, press the key combination Ctrl + S, select the item This PC with a double click of the mouse, choose the destination folder, assign a new name to the document in question and finally press the button Save.
Make sure you give the new file a different name than the original damaged one so that you can make a copy of it
Method 2 of 5: Change the File Type on Windows Systems
Step 1. Understand why this method works in some cases
Sometimes Excel files that are created on older computers or using an older version of the program are not perfectly compatible with new versions of the spreadsheet produced by Microsoft. However, Excel files can be saved in many different formats. For this reason, changing the format of the corrupt file to "XLSX" (or "XLS" in the case of an older version of Excel) may solve the problem automatically.
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Open a new "File Explorer" window by clicking the icon
It features a small folder and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Go to the View tab of the ribbon
It is located at the top of the "File Explorer" window. Its toolbar will appear.
Step 5. Select the "File Name Extensions" checkbox
It is visible within the group called "Show / Hide" of the toolbar. This way the file extension (including Excel documents) will be visible and can be changed manually.
Step 6. Select the file in question
Navigate to the folder where the Excel document to be repaired is stored, then select it with the mouse to highlight it.
Step 7. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window. A new toolbar will appear, different from the previous one.
Step 8. Press the Rename button
It is located within the "Organize" group. This way you will be able to change the name and extension of the currently selected file.
Step 9. Change the document type
Simply replace the current extension, i.e. the portion of text on the right of the dot, with the suffix xlsx, then press the Enter key.
- For example, if the actual file name is "Sheet1.docx", after the change it should be "Sheet1.xlsx".
- If the file extension is already "xlsx", try changing it to "xls" or "html".
Step 10. When prompted, press the Yes button
This will confirm your willingness to change the extension of the file in question.
Step 11. Try to access the contents of the file
Double-click it to open it automatically with the default program. If the file is opened using Excel (or the internet browser if you chose the "html" extension), it means that the recovery procedure was successful and you will be able to recover its contents.
- If you have chosen to use the "html" extension, you have the possibility to convert the appeared web page into an Excel document by simply dragging the file in HTML format into the window or onto the Microsoft program icon and then saving the new document in "xlsx" format.
- If the file doesn't open, try using this Windows-only method.
Method 3 of 5: Change the File Type on Mac
Step 1. Understand why this method works in some cases
Sometimes Excel files that are created on older computers or using an older version of the program are not perfectly compatible with new versions of the spreadsheet produced by Microsoft. However, Excel files can be saved in many different formats. For this reason, changing the format of the corrupt file to "xlsx" (or "xls" in the case of an older version of Excel) may solve the problem automatically.
Step 2. Open a Finder window
Click the blue stylized face icon visible within the System Dock.
Step 3. Select the file to edit
Navigate to the folder where the Excel document to be repaired is stored, then select it with the mouse to highlight it.
Step 4. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Choose the Get Info option
It is one of the items on the menu File appeared; a dialog box will appear.
Step 6. If necessary, expand the "Name and extension" section
If you don't see any information under this heading, click the right-facing triangle icon on the left of the "Name and Extension" section to expand it.
Step 7. Change the file format
Simply replace the current extension, i.e. the portion of text on the right of the dot, with the suffix xlsx, then press the Enter key.
- For example, if the actual file name is "Sheet1.docx", after the modification it must be "Sheet1.xlsx".
- If the file extension is already "xlsx", try changing it to "xls" or "html".
Step 8. When prompted, press the Use.xlsx button
In this way you will confirm the willingness to change the extension of the file in question.
Step 9. Try to access the contents of the file
Double-click it to open it automatically with the default program. If the file is opened using Excel (or the internet browser if you chose the "html" extension), it means that the recovery procedure was successful and you will be able to recover its contents.
- If you have chosen to use the "html" extension, you have the possibility to convert the appeared web page into an Excel document by simply dragging the file in HTML format into the window or onto the Microsoft program icon and then saving the new document in "XLSX" format.
- If the file doesn't open, try using this Apple-only method.
Method 4 of 5: Restore a Temporary File on Windows Systems
Step 1. Understand the operational limitations of this method
Like most of the products included in the Microsoft Office suite, Excel automatically creates a temporary version of its files for use in the event of a restore. This means that you may have a chance to recover a partial version of the corrupt Excel document. However Excel does not create these temporary files in real time, so most likely using this method you will be able to recover only a partial version of the document.
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Type keywords this pc
Your computer will search for the Windows "This PC" program.
Step 4. Select the This PC icon
It features a computer monitor and is displayed at the top of the "Start" menu. This will bring up the "This PC" window.
Step 5. Double-click the icon for the system hard drive
It is normally identified by the wording "(C:)" together with the name of the computer manufacturer and is visible in the "Devices and drives" section located in the center of the window.
Step 6. Double click on the "Users" folder
You'll find it at the bottom of the list of all files and folders on your computer's hard drive.
Step 7. Double click on your user folder
This is the directory where all information relating to the user account you are using is stored and should be identified by a portion or the entire name you have assigned to your user profile.
Step 8. Go to the "AppData" folder
The list should be sorted alphabetically, so the indicated folder will be visible at the top of the list within the section for the letter "A".
If the directory in question is not visible, go to the tab View on the ribbon, then select the "Hidden Items" checkbox located within the "Show / Hide" group. This way the "AppData" folder should appear in the content list.
Step 9. Go to the "Local" folder
It is visible at the top of the window.
Step 10. Scroll through the newly appeared list to locate and select the "Microsoft" entry
You will find it in the section relating to the letter "M" of the list.
Step 11. Go to the "Office" folder
Since the list is sorted alphabetically, find the section for the letter "O".
Step 12. Go to the "UnsavedFiles" directory
It should be visible at the top of the window.
Step 13. Select an Excel file
Locate the icon of a document created with Microsoft Excel whose name matches that of the corrupt or damaged file. At this point click it with the mouse to select it.
If there is no Excel document inside the indicated folder, it means that no recovery version of the file in question has been created
Step 14. Change the extension of the detected Excel document
Follow these simple instructions:
- Access the card View.
- Select the "Filename extensions" checkbox.
- Access the card Home.
- Push the button Rename.
- Replace the.tmp suffix with the.xlsx extension.
- Press the Inivio key.
- When prompted, press the button Yup.
Step 15. Access the contents of the newly renamed Excel file
Double-click its icon to open it.
Step 16. Save the file
When the file you just restored opens successfully, press the key combination Ctrl + S, select the item This PC with a double click of the mouse, choose the destination folder, assign a new name to the document in question and finally press the button Save.
Make sure you give the new file a different name than the original damaged one, so that you can create a new copy
Method 5 of 5: Restore a Temp File on Mac
Step 1. Understand the operational limitations of this method
Like most of the products included in the Microsoft Office suite, Excel automatically creates a temporary version of its files for use in the event of a restore. This means that you may have a chance to recover a partial version of the corrupt Excel document. However the program does not create these temporary files in real time, so most likely using this method you will be able to recover only a partial version of the document.
Step 2. Enter the Go menu
It's one of the options in the Mac menu bar at the top of the screen. A new drop-down menu will appear.
If the menu Go is not visible, you will first have to open a Finder window or click an empty spot on the desktop to make it appear.
Step 3. Press and hold the special ⌥ Option key
Like this within the menu Go the entry should appear Bookshelf.
Step 4. Select the Library option
It is one of the items on the drop-down menu Go. This way you will have access to the system folder Bookshelf which is normally hidden.
Step 5. Go to the "Containers" directory
Select it with a double click of the mouse. It is listed in the "C" section of the "Library" folder contents list.
Step 6. Select the search bar
It is located in the upper right part of the window.
Step 7. Search the "Microsoft Excel" folder
Type in the keywords com.microsoft. Excel and press the Enter key.
Step 8. Select the Containers entry
It is located to the right of the "Look in:" header at the top of the Finder window.
Step 9. Go to the "com.microsoft. Excel" folder
Simply select it with a double click of the mouse.
Step 10. Open the "Data" directory
Step 11. Go to the "Library" folder
Step 12. Open the "Preferences" directory
If this item is not visible, scroll up or down the list to locate it.
Step 13. Navigate to the "AutoRecovery" folder
It contains the list of all recovery files that Excel created automatically while you were working on your documents.
Step 14. Locate the recovery version of the Excel file of interest to you
It should have the same name (or a portion of it) as the corrupt file you are trying to recover.
If there is no Excel document inside the indicated folder, it means that no recovery version of the file in question has been created
Step 15. Select the desired Excel document
Click the relevant icon with the mouse.
Step 16. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the Mac screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 17. Choose the Open With option
It is one of the items at the top of the drop-down menu File. You will see a secondary menu appear.
Step 18. Choose the Excel entry
It is visible within the newly appeared submenu. The temporary version of the corrupt Excel file will be opened within the chosen program window.
This version of the original file will most likely not include all the most recent data changes you made on the original document
Step 19. Save the new file
Press the key combination ⌘ Command + S, name the file, select a destination folder using the "Located in:" drop-down menu and press the button Save.
Advice
- Often the Windows operating system will try to automatically repair the Excel file upon opening.
- In some cases you may be able to access the data contained in a corrupt Excel file by booting the system in safe mode. If doing this solves the problem, it means that the cause was most likely a virus or an error in the file.
- To try to recover the data present in a damaged Excel file there are several paid tools. Stellar Phoenix Excel Repair, available for both Windows and Mac systems, is a great example of this type of program.
