Excel File Repair: Your Ultimate Guide to Recover Lost Data

Reasons for Corruption in Excel Files

Some common reasons for Excel file corruption include:

• Large file size
• Sudden power failure
• Malware or virus infection
• Improper shutdown of the system
• Issues with the hard drive
• Operating system issues
• Bad sectors in the storage media
• Abrupt Microsoft Excel closure
• Logical errors within the Excel file

Methods to Repair Corrupt Excel Files

There are various solutions to repair and recover corrupt Excel files. We have mentioned below some effective and easy-to-use methods to fix the Excel file.

Method 1: Delete Unnecessary Temporary Excel Files

The temporary files can cause file conflicts, leading to errors when opening the file. Deleting the temporary files can help clean the system and resolve the issue. To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch Windows Explorer and access Windows Drive (C: drive).

Step 2: Go to Users > [Username] > AppData > Local > Microsoft > Office.

Step 3: Search for temporary files with the “.tmp” extension and delete them from the system.

Step 4: Launch Microsoft Excel and try to open the corrupt Excel file.

Method 2: Remove Incompatible Add-ins from Microsoft Excel

Incompatible add-ins in Microsoft Excel can also create issues while opening the file. Removing incompatible or faulty add-ins can resolve the issue. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Excel and go to Menu > File > Options.

Step 2: In the Excel Options window, go to the Add-ins section.

Step 3: Select the unnecessary add-ins that need to be removed.

Step 4: Click on Actions to delete the add-ins. Another option to delete/uninstall add-ins is through the Manage Add-ins option in MS Excel.

Method 3: Repair Microsoft Office Program

If your Microsoft Office program is damaged, then you may face issues and errors when opening the Excel files. In such a case, you can repair the Microsoft Office. Follow the below steps:

Step 1: Launch Control Panel and go to the Programs & Features section.

Step 2: Select the Microsoft Office application and click on the Manage or Change option.

Step 3: Click Repair to fix the installed MS Office.

Step 4: Select Quick Repair from the given options. Follow the instructions to complete the process.

Step 5: After repair, open MS Excel and check if you’re able to open the Excel file.

Method 4: Disable Protected View

Disabling this view can help in accessing the Excel file received via email or from external sources. If you can access the file after disabling the Protected View, save it with a new name. Here are the steps to disable Protected View:

Step 1: Open a new Excel file and go to File > Options.

Step 2: Click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.

Step 3: Click Protected View, deselect all the boxes, and click OK.

Step 4: Launch MS Excel and try opening the Excel file.

Method 5: Use Open and Repair Utility in Excel

If the above workarounds don’t work, then you can use the Open and Repair utility - an inbuilt Excel file repair solution. If your Excel file is mildly damaged, this utility can help you repair the file easily. To run the repair utility, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Menu > Open and select the corrupted Excel file from the local system.

Step 2: Click on the arrow next to Open. From the dropdown menu, click on Open and Repair.

Step 3: Click Repair.

Step 4: Microsoft Excel will try to repair the selected file. If it is unable to recover the data, click Extract Data. This option will recover the Excel file (values and formulas) without retaining the file formatting.

Method 6: Use a Third-Party Excel Repair Software

If nothing works, then you can use third-party Excel repair software, such as Stellar Repair for Excel. It is a reliable Excel repair software that can help you repair corrupt and damaged Excel files. It recovers all the objects from the corrupt Excel file. The software has a user-friendly interface that does not require any technical knowledge to operate it.

Steps to repair corrupt Excel Files using Stellar Repair for Excel:

Step 1: Download and launch Stellar Repair for Excel.

Step 2: Select the corrupted file by clicking on the “Browse” option. If you are not aware of the location of the Excel file, you can search for it with the help of the “Find” option.

Step 3: Select the file that needs to be repaired. Click “Repair” to initiate the scanning process.

Step 4: Once the scanning process is completed, the list of file items will be displayed in the left pane. Choose an item to see its preview. Select the items that you want to save from the list.

Step 5: Click on “Save File”.

Step 6: Select “Default location of file” or “Select New Folder” to save the repaired file.

Conclusion

If Excel files get corrupted, it can lead to a major data loss situation. In this article, we have provided various manual methods to repair Excel files and restore the data. If the manual methods do not work for you, Stellar Repair for Excel is the best solution to restore your corrupt and damaged Excel files.

The software has many advanced features that help recover your crucial data from corrupt Excel files. It is compatible with Excel versions 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007.