3 Easy Ways Recover and Repair Corrupted Excel Files

Do not be desperate. There are several easy ways to repair Excel files stored in an.xlsx or .xls file, let’s find out how.

Repair spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel

The latest versions of Microsoft Excel have a built-in function that allows you to repair damaged files. To open a corrupted file:

  • Select Open from the main menu;
  • Open the popup menu by pressing the Open button  in the lower right corner;
  • Select Open and Repair …

Excel will parse and repair the file independently. After this process is completed, Excel will open the worksheet containing the repaired data.

Repair algorithms in Microsoft Excel are updated regularly and have a good chance of full or partial repair of a damaged Excel worksheet. However, sometimes this method does not help and Excel cannot repair a damaged .xlsx or .xls file.

2. Repair Excel files with special programs

There are several special programs developed exclusively for repairing damaged Excel files. The best is probably the Recovery Toolbox for Excel. It is simple and easy to use program with a friendly interface in several languages including German, Italian, Arabic, and others.

Just select the damaged file on the first page of the program and press the Analyze button. If any data is detected in the damaged file, it will be immediately displayed on the second page of the program. All repaired data is also displayed in the DEMO version of the program. In other words, you do not have to buy the program just to answer the most important question of all: can it repair my damaged Excel file?

In the full version of the program, you can either store the repaired data in an.xlsx file or export it directly to a new Excel document.

Note: Recovery Toolbox for Excel only works on Windows computers.

3. Repair Excel files with online services

There are online services that can repair damaged Excel files on your servers. To do this, simply send your file to the server through your browser. Once the file is processed, you will receive the repaired results. The best and most affordable online service for Excel file repair is Online File Repair. Using the online service is even easier than using Recovery Toolbox for Excel.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Repairing an Excel File:

  1. Select the damaged Excel file;
  2. Enter your email address;
  3. Enter the captcha code  ;
  4. Select Send file for recovery ;
  5. Examine the screenshots of the repaired data;
  6. Pay for repair service ($ 5 per file);
  7. Download the repaired file.

4. Conclusion

You can pay to repair damaged Excel files or you can do this for free. According to Recovery Toolbox data, your chance to repair a damaged Excel file is around 40%.

If you have a large number of damaged Excel files or if your files contain sensitive information, the most convenient option is to use a special program, such as Recovery Toolbox for Excel.

If you need help, have doubts or concerns, do not hesitate to leave a comment in the comment box below and we will try to help you as soon as possible!

Sonu Sharma: Sonu Sharma is Founder of 'TechKhiladi'. An enthusiast entrepreneur and blogger. He has a very deep interest in learning things related to the digital world and love to sharing his knowledge with others through blogs.