Get rid of "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened" in Excel

Quick tip: learn how to access a corrupt xls. file in Excel

Usually when upgrading you expect nothing but improvements. So it can be really disappointing when after moving to Excel 2010 you have no chance to access your .xls file created in the application version 2003 and earlier. You understand what I'm talking about if you ever encountered "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened" error in Excel 2010 and later. Still think you can't open it? Actually you can!
Excel message: The file is corrupt and cannot be opened in Excel 2010

How to open a corrupt xls. file in Excel 2010 - 365

Try the following steps to see how your precious .xls data appear in Excel 2010 and later:

  1. Open Excel.
  2. Click on File -> Options.
  3. Select Trust Center and press the Trust center settings button.
    Excel: Trust center settings
  4. Pick Protected view.
    Trust center - Protected view
  5. Uncheck all the options under Protected View and confirm by pressing OK.
  6. Restart Excel and try to open the broken Excel documents.

Note. For safety reasons, you should save your document with new Office format like .xlsx. You can do it this way: File > Options -> Trust Center -> Trust Center settings -> Protected View.
Check all the options again under Protected View, click OK and restart Excel.

This will set the security options back. Sure, you don't want to open any file unsafely.

That's it. Hope it will work for you and your documents :).

Thanks and see you!

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390 comments

  1. ...thanks so much. It worked out for me

  2. It works! It was a really helpful step by step guide. Thank you so much

  3. works 100 % and took care of WORD program also. THANKS !!

  4. 100% Working. Thanks!

  5. Perfect! 100% working. My data are back! Thank you so much!

  6. Not Work...
    Very sad to lost important file...

  7. Am grateful Sir,
    It worked 💯

  8. thank you. My problem is solved.

  9. Thank you so much.This is worked for me

  10. great this worked!

  11. great, it works

  12. great! it works wonderful. thanks a lot for this!

  13. Thank You , Problem solve

  14. Thanks, problem solved

  15. This worked a treat. Thank you.

  16. thank you so much
    it worked

  17. thank you

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