Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely used and former applications. Nonetheless, regardless of the modern day, the application’s popularity as well as usage are continuously growing. It is commonly used by students, businesses, and individuals alike to store and manage their financial data.
Excel files are very important in many workplaces, but sometimes they can become corrupted or damaged which can lead to issues such as slow performance, failure to open, insufficient memory, and more.
However, there’s no need to worry because, in this article, we will show you how to repair corrupted Excel file. Moreover, we’ll cover all the errors you might encounter and provide four simple yet effective methods for repairing your Excel files instantly.
This way, you’ll be able to access your Excel documents seamlessly without any frustrating errors. So, keep reading to learn more!
Part 1. 5 Common Causes That Lead to Corrupted Excel Files
Before we discuss the methods to repair Excel file, let’s look at some of the most common causes of corrupted Excel documents. Yes, some common causes can damage your Excel file.
However, you should be aware of these reasons so that you can avoid similar problems in the future. Here is a list of four reasons that will immediately damage your Excel files.
- Logical Errors: Logical errors occur when there are inconsistencies or flaws in the calculations, formulas, or data representation of the spreadsheet. These errors can lead to inaccurate results or unexpected behavior, compromising the accuracy and integrity of the data.
- Corrupt Storage: Corrupt storage happens when the physical or digital storage medium containing Excel files is damaged or compromised. Hardware malfunctions, software errors, viruses, or unexpected power outages can cause corruption. When storage becomes corrupt, it can result in data loss or corruption within the Excel files stored on that medium, making it challenging or impossible to access or recover the data.
- Malware or Virus Attacks: Malware attacks on an Excel file can corrupt or alter its contents, resulting in data loss or unauthorized access. Malicious software can inject harmful code into Excel files, jeopardizing their integrity and functionality. Furthermore, malware can spread via Excel files, infecting other documents and systems on the network.
- Mishandling of Files: Mishandling of files occurs when Excel documents are incorrectly managed or manipulated, resulting in information corruption or loss. This can include actions such as forcing Excel to shut down without saving changes, performing inefficient file transfers, or opening or editing Excel files with incompatible software. Mishandling documents can cause irreversible damage, making recovery difficult or impossible.
- App-Related Issue: If your MS Excel app or the entire MS Office Suite becomes corrupted, the software’s functionality suffers, potentially causing XLS file damage. Corrupted software may encounter errors when opening, saving, or modifying Excel files, causing data loss or corruption.
Part 2. 4 Amazing Ways to Repair Damaged Excel Files Quickly
Method No: 01. Use the “AutoRecover” Feature to Restore a Temporary Save
Excel, like other Microsoft Office applications, provides an “AutoRecover” feature that automatically saves a recovered version of a file. This feature periodically saves Excel worksheets to a temporary location at specified intervals.
If an Excel file becomes corrupted, you can use the AutoRecover feature to retrieve either partial or complete versions of it. Here are the simple steps to use the AutoRecover feature for Excel repair and the following are:
Step 1: Launch Excel and make a new workbook. Open the “File” menu and select “Options.”
Step 2: In the Options window, go to the “Save” section and find the AutoRecover file location.
Step 3: Make a copy of the AutoRecover file location.
Step 4: In File Explorer, paste the copied AutoRecover file location into the address bar.
Step 5: Press Enter to see all auto-saved Excel files.
Step 6: Choose the desired file from the list and then proceed to recover it.
Method No: 02. Download Wondershare Repairit File Repair
Wondershare RepairIt File Repair is a software designed to repair corrupted or damaged files in various formats, including Excel spreadsheets. It can fix corrupt Excel file in minutes without compromising their original quality. Additionally, this tool has a user-friendly interface and powerful repair capabilities, making it a reliable option for recovering lost or inaccessible data from damaged files.
However, let’s take a closer look at its main features and a step-by-step guide on how to use Wondershare Repairit File Repair.
Wondershare Repairit File Repair- Main Features
- Try it for free.
- 1,010,994 people have downloaded it.
- Repair damaged Excel files with all levels of corruption, including blank files, files not opening, unrecognizable format, unreadable content, files layout changed, etc.
- Repairs all kinds of data stored in damaged Excel files such as tables, charts, formulas, comments, images, etc.
- Support all formats of Excel files: XLSX/XLSM/XLTX/XLTM/XLS
- Perfectly repair corrupted files with a very high success rate, without modifying the original file.
- No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.
- Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 13.
- Except for Excel, Repairit also supports all formats of PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ZIP, and Adobe files.
Wondershare Repairit File Repair- Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: First, download this Excel repair tool from the official Wondershare Repairit File Repair website. Once downloaded, launch it and click on the “+Add” button to select and upload all the damaged Excel files.
Step 2: After uploading all the files, click on the “Repair” button located at the bottom right of the screen. Wait for a few seconds until all the files are repaired successfully.
Step 3: Once the repair process is completed, preview all the repaired files within the software to ensure that the data has been successfully recovered. If you are happy with the repair results, then Save the fixed Excel file to the proffered location on your computer.
Method No: 03. Try MS Excel’s Native Repairing Feature
Did you know that Microsoft Office has a built-in solution for fixing minor issues with Office documents, including Excel files? Yes, this amazing feature, called “Open and Repair,” can effectively and quickly repair mildly corrupted XLS or XLSX files with ease.
However, to repair an Excel file corrupted using this method, begin by launching Microsoft Excel. Then, navigate to the “File” menu and select “Open.” Locate the corrupted Excel document on your computer and select it.
Instead of opening the file in the usual way, look for the dropdown button next to the “Open” feature. Click on it and choose “Open and Repair” from the menu. This will start the repair process.
If the repair is successful, the Excel file will be opened, and you can continue working with it as usual. However, if the repair fails, you can still extract data from the corrupted file by selecting the “Extract Data” option. This allows you to retrieve valuable data from the Excel file even if the repair process is unsuccessful.
Method No: 04. Repair Corrupted Excel Document by Modifying Calculation Settings
If you’re encountering issues accessing a corrupted Excel workbook, try opening it with automatic calculations disabled. Modifying the calculation settings in Excel might help you retrieve access to your file. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Launch Excel and create a new workbook. Then, go to “File” on the upper-left side and choose “Options.”
Step 2: In the “Options” dialog box, navigate to the “Formulas” tab. Under “Workbook Calculation,” opt for “Manual” to deactivate automatic processing.
Step 3: Click “OK” to save your changes and exit the dialogue box. Finally, go to “File” > “Open,” find your corrupted workbook, and attempt to open it.
Important Note: Remember to switch back the calculation settings to their original state after you’re done. To ensure that Excel continues to automatically calculate functions and formulas in the rest of your documents, choose “Automatic” instead of “Manual” in the “Calculation options”.
Part 3. How to Repair Corrupted Excel Files Online Free in 2024
If you don’t want to download any software to fix your Excel files and prefer a free online tool instead, then Wondershare Repairit Online File Repair is a great option for you in 2024. This is a free online web-based tool that is user-friendly and can fix minor issues with your Excel files in just three easy steps. So, what are you waiting for? Try it now!
- Simply visit the website, and upload your corrupted Excel files.
- Now click on the Repair button to initiate the repair process.
- Next preview the repaired files, and click on the Save button to complete the process.
To Sum Up
Encountering corrupted Excel files can be a frustrating experience, possibly leading to data loss and workflow disruptions. In this comprehensive article, we’ve explored four incredible quick fixes for repairing damaged Excel files.
These methods range from utilizing MS Excel’s native repairing feature to downloading specialized software like Wondershare Repairit File Repair. Each method offers unique advantages and can be employed based on the severity of the corruption and user preferences.
We’ve also highlighted the importance of understanding the common causes of corrupted Excel files. Additionally, we will introduce Wondershare Repairit Online File Repair, an online solution for those who prefer a free and convenient way to fix minor issues with Excel files without the need for downloading software.
Overall, with the expert solutions provided in this article, you can effectively address corrupted Excel files and regain seamless access to their valuable data, ensuring productivity and continuity in your work processes. Thank you.