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. excellent! thanks for this very helpful tip. no need to call helpdesk

  2. hi
    i see the location that you said, but in trust center i didnt see the protected view!!!

  3. You have no idea how many hours of work you just saved me. Thank you thank you thank you! So, is the unfortunate lesson learned that you cannot convert all previously created files to Excel 2010?

  4. I Love you.

  5. Rad this worked, thanks!

  6. my file as same problem if any problem with registry due to the virus?

    • Sorry, I am not sure I can follow you. Could you please explain the problem in more detail?

  7. Thanks Dear , Its working ...

  8. thanks a lot...its working again

  9. if i have a password on the sheet .. its working this steps
    when i log by administrator that excel sheet open with my pass
    if i log with anouther account i see this message
    The file is corrupt and cannot be opened

    • Hello Mahmoud,
      Thank you for the info! I will try to reproduce the issue and if succeed, I will add a notice to the article.

  10. thanx a lot

  11. Did not work for me. Those options were already unchecked. I frequently get that error when trying to open a 2nd excel file when I already have one open. It's driving me crazy. I have lost so much productivity since "upgrading" to Excel 10.

    • This is very strange. Do you get this message on the same files or randomly? On which drive are the files located - local or network drive?

  12. It works! Thank you so much! LIKE!!!!

  13. It works. Thanks alot Alex.

  14. Thanks allot for sharing this tip

  15. Many, many thanks.

  16. I have fixed that problem
    Thanks alot

  17. Please help me man i'm in deep shitt.
    If i didn't open the excel file i'm fired from my job,,,,, pleaseeeeeeee help meeeee. i can send u the file on ur email if u want, pleaseeeeeee

  18. Great!! it worked. Thank you.

  19. thanks , prob solved

  20. Hi

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