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. your solution is the best!! thank you and God bless you all the time!!

  2. Thanks a lot ..... u just saved me

  3. Worker for me perfectly even when i got a Professional plus 2021 Office version. thanks

  4. Thank you very much i faced this issue many days, now it solved

  5. This worked for me perfectly and save of my time and frustration. Thanks!

  6. it worked. thanks

  7. Thank you it work perfectly

  8. THANKS IT HELPED

  9. Thanks a lot..it worked

  10. Thank you so much. This worked for me.

  11. Really helped thanks

  12. Thank you it works <3

  13. sir i have a issue pls help me out.... im not able to capy the file and nor able to open it....what to do any suggetions ? and the file name colour its black to green

  14. Thanks a lot for such a nice and simple tricks.!!!!! It worked well!!!!!

  15. didn't work...ugh!

  16. Easy Fix. I had this problem for over a year now

  17. Did not work; I'm still looking for a solution. Why would Microsoft be so irresponsible as to make it so that older excel files cannot be opened? Some businesses have files for many decades. How do I open them? They have vital information in them!

    • Did you find a solution...I'm in the same boat.

  18. Thanks a lot for such a nice and simple tricks. It worked well

  19. it really helped

  20. it works. Thanks a lot

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