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. Thank you! You helped me out alot!

  2. Thank you so much! it worked :)

  3. Thank you so much… Its working fine

  4. it help, thanks alot. abit late to find this resolution. at least no more problem.

  5. Thank you! This saved me from wasting time...

  6. Thanks a lot... It works!!!

  7. Thank you, Works great now!

  8. Thank you so very very much!!

  9. Thanks so much

  10. a big THANK YOU, i tried so many other suggestions, non worked, yours worked first time.

  11. Awesome, thanks so much, this was driving me crazy.

  12. thank you

  13. Vow!!!Brilliant ....was trying from a very long time...n i got much appreciations from my boss after fixing this problem, thx Mr.Alexander

  14. thnks alot..really worked...

  15. thanks alot..it helped

  16. Works great now! Thanks!!! Thought the issues was within Outlook, but it was Excel having the issues.

  17. Thank you. I have same "bug" in my PowerPoint. Now all "set up" is unsecured, and work fine! :)

  18. Thank you that worked.

  19. Thank You very much, I had been moving docs to a different PC to Open the Excel docs. You have helped me from botheration

  20. thank u thank u thank u so much
    its working

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