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!

Table of contents

390 comments

  1. It worked perfectly thank you very much.

  2. THANX DEAR

  3. Tks.

  4. Thanks a lot..
    It's working....

  5. someone that coudln't open excel files he receive from extenral domain in his outlook, I tried to delete outlook temp ==> same problem.

    tried your advise, unchecked it all, works fine !
    thank you very much!

  6. Worked for me :)
    Thx !

  7. Thank you so much for your valued advise. It help me .

  8. It works.

  9. thanks a lot , is working file :)

  10. works thanks

  11. Its works but is there any permanent fix?

  12. It works!!!! thank a lot ppl

  13. thank's boss

  14. Excellent...Thankyou very much..

  15. This worked! Thank you!

  16. approved! this is working :)

  17. works great! thanks for the help

  18. working thank you

  19. yes sir its working

  20. Great!!! its working !!
    Thanks man :-)

Post a comment



Thank you for your comment!
When posting a question, please be very clear and concise. This will help us provide a quick and relevant solution to
your query. We cannot guarantee that we will answer every question, but we'll do our best :)