Excel File Corrupted and Cannot Be Opened? Fix it in Minutes!

Encountering MS Excel file corrupted and cannot be opened error? This message occurs suddenly, halting your working experience & leaving you scrambling for a solution. But do not worry! In this helpful guide, we’ll dive into this pesky ‘the file is corrupted and cannot be opened’ error, why it happens, and most significantly, how to fix it in a hassle-free way.

Excel file corrupted and cannot be opened

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Why Is Excel Showing Corrupted and Cannot Be Opened Error?

This error message usually occurs when trying to open an Excel document in a newer version of MS Office that is created in an older version. However, it’s essential to understand the common causes before fixing it:

  1. Unexpected system shutdowns during the file-saving process.
  2. Virus or malware attacks.
  3. Incompatibilities between different software versions.
  4. A corrupted Excel workbook.
  5. Incorrect protected view settings.
  6. Network issues can also lead to this error.
  7. Physical damage or logical errors in storage devices.

Should I Fix Excel Cannot Open the File Corrupted Error Immediately?

Yes, you should fix Excel cannot open the file corrupted immediately because it may restrict you from opening a specific workbook and accessing the data saved within it. So, consider resolving this message to access your spreadsheet data & ensure a smooth workflow.

Solutions to Fix Excel File Corrupted and Cannot Be Opened Error

This section discusses both simple and advanced solutions to solve this error. So, let’s try them:

Solution 1- Try Some Basic Tricks

Before you try any complex solutions, try some basic tricks like:

  1. Reboot Excel Software & PC
  2. Ensure the Excel App is Updated
  3. Check File Compatibility

Also Read: Fix Cannot Be Accessed the File May Be Corrupted Excel Error!

Solution 2- Disable “Protected View” Settings

Sometimes, enabling protected view settings in Excel can cause this problem. Consider disabling protected view settings to fix it. Follow the below steps to do so:

  • Launch the Excel application.
  • Navigate to Options>> Trust Center.
  • Now, click on the Trust Center Settings >> Protected View.

Trust Center Settings

  • After that, deselect all the options related to Protected View and click OK.

Protected View

Solution 3- Change Excel File Extension

If the above solution won’t help you then try changing the Excel file extension as this helps many users to fix the file is corrupted and cannot be opened error.

Follow the steps to do so:

  • Open the command prompt on your PC.
  • Now in the opened cmd screen just type the destination drive letter in which your corrupted Excel file contained. Suppose if it is in D drive then type D: and press the Enter button.

change excel file extension through cmd 1

  • After entering into the destination drive in command prompt just type the below command:

ren <old _filename.extension> <new_filename.extension>

eg: ren employee.xlsx teachers.xls

In the above code <old _filename.extension> must be replaced with your current Excel filename and its extension. whereas,  <new_filename.extension> must be replaced with the Excel filename and it’s an extension that you want to assign to your old Excel file.

change excel file extension through cmd 2

Note: Don’t forget to give a blank spaces between these two file names.

Solution 4- Use Open & Repair Utility

A corrupted Excel file is one of the major factors for causing Excel cannot open the file corrupted error. In such a case, it is worth using Open and Repair tool to fix Excel workbook corruption.

Steps to be followed:

  • Open Excel >> Open.
  • Next, browse to pick the corrupted Excel sheet.
  • Now, click on an arrow next to “Open” button >> hit on Open and Repair>> Repair.

Use Open and Repair Tool

And you are done!

Also Read: Fixed- The Workbook Cannot Be Opened or Repaired by Microsoft Excel Error (8 Ways)

Solution 5- Best Software To Repair Corrupt Excel Files 

To repair severely corrupt Excel files, it is suggested to try the MS Excel Repair ToolThis is a professionally recommended solution to easily repair both .xls and .xlsx file. It is a unique tool that can repair multiple corrupted Excel files at one time and also recover everything including charts, cell comments, worksheet properties, and other data.

It is extremely easy to use even a novice user can use it and supports both Windows as well as Mac operating systems.

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* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

Steps to Utilize MS Excel Repair Tool:

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Solution 6- Change Component Services Settings to Fix Excel File Corrupted and Cannot Be Opened Error

Well if the above-given solution won’t help you then try changing Component Security Settings to fix the error.

Follow the steps to do so:

  • In the Start menu,> go to the Search tab> type ‘dcomcnfg

Change Component Services Settings 1

  • Now a new Component Services window with a three-pane view
  • Then, in the left pane > expand the Computers folder
  • Right-click on My Computer> select Properties
  • Select the Default Properties tab on a new window.
  • Now tick mark the option ‘Enable Distributed COM on this computer’, and set the value of ‘Default Authentication Level’ as ‘Connect’ and ‘Default Impersonation Level’ as ‘Identify

Change Component Services Settings 2

  • After that click OK> restart Microsoft Excel

Solution 7- Repair MS Office Application

Last but not least, if none of the above solutions work, you can try repairing your Office Program to troubleshoot this error message.

Follow the steps to do so: 

  • Click on Start, select Control Panel and then choose Programs and Features.

Control Panel

  • Now, click on the Office program that you want to repair, and then select on Change.

ms office repair from control panel

  • Click on Repair and then Continue.

ms office repair from control panel 1

  • After the repair process is complete, restart your system.

ms office repair from control panel 2

Related FAQs:

Why Can't I Open My Excel File?

It might be possible that your file associations for MS Excel may have become isolated or aren’t set correctly.

How Do I Recover a Corrupt Excel File That Won't Open?

To recover a corrupt Excel file that won’t open, follow these steps:

  • Open Excel >> Open.
  • Then, browse to select the corrupt Excel sheet.
  • Click ‘Open’ button >> Open and Repair.
  • Now, to recover as much of the Excel file data as possible, pick Repair.

Should I Use XLS Or XLSX?

You should use XLSX files instead of XLS, as such files offer improved compatibility with numerous Excel versions & other spreadsheet applications.

How Does an Excel File Get Corrupted?

An Excel file gets damaged or corrupted due to numerous reasons such as sudden system shutdown when the file is still open, a virus/malware attack, a power outage while working on an Excel spreadsheet, etc.

Also Read: Ways for “Failed to Parse the Corrupted Excel File” Error- Discover the Fix NOW!

Bottom Line

Excel file corrupted and cannot be opened error can be a frustrating issue. However, by understanding the major causes and employing effective techniques mentioned above in this post, you can often solve this error and recover your data.

Furthermore, create regular backups of your worksheets against future corruption.



Priyanka is a content marketing expert. She writes tech blogs and has expertise in MS Office, Excel, and other tech subjects. Her distinctive art of presenting tech information in the easy-to-understand language is very impressive. When not writing, she loves unplanned travels.