Before attempting any recovery method, always make a copy of your corrupted file. Recovery attempts can sometimes make corruption worse, so protect your original file first!
Microsoft provides official recovery methods that should be your first attempt. These methods are free and often successful with common corruption issues.
Excel 2007+ Users: Microsoft Excel 2007+ Recovery Guide
Excel 2002-2003 Users: Microsoft Excel 2002-2003 Recovery Guide
Start with these simple methods - they resolve many common Excel corruption issues without requiring additional software.
Close Excel completely, then reopen it and try to open your file again. This clears temporary memory issues that can cause corruption errors.
If the simple restart doesn't work, restart your entire computer, then open Excel and try again. This clears deeper system-level issues.
Delete contents of your Windows temp directory (C:\Windows\temp), then reboot and try again. Corrupted temp files can interfere with Excel's operation.
Excel saves temporary files that might contain your data. Check these locations:
Look for files named "~DF????.TMP" - try changing the extension to .xls or .xlsx and opening them.
This disables VBA and add-ins that might be causing conflicts. Run this command:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\excel.exe" /s
Scan the file for viruses, especially with macro heuristics enabled. Some viruses corrupt Excel files, and removing the virus may restore functionality.
Try opening the Excel file in Microsoft Word or WordPad. Word 2003 can sometimes open Excel files as tables. Even if it shows binary code, you can extract text strings from the data.
Make another copy first - Word sometimes destroys the binary structure of Excel files.
Try copying the file to another location. If you can't copy it, the disk sectors may be physically damaged.
Try Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier or recoverdm for damaged hard drives.
Newer versions of Excel have better corruption recovery capabilities. If possible, try opening the file in Excel 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365.
Try opening the file in other spreadsheet applications like LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, or other alternatives. Sometimes they can read files that Excel cannot.
When free methods fail, specialized recovery software can often restore your data. Most offer free trials to preview recoverable content.
Most recovery software offers free demos that show you exactly what can be recovered before you purchase. Always test the demo first!
Highly recommended for comprehensive recovery including data, formulas, formats, and charts. Excellent success rate with complex corruption.
Try DemoBest value for basic data recovery. Great for simple corruption when Excel itself fails. Excellent price point for personal use.
Download TrialProfessional-grade recovery including formatting restoration. Offers $30 discount for website linking.
Try Free DemoSupports batch recovery of multiple files. Good value for businesses with multiple corrupted files.
Download DemoDesigned to recover from virus attacks, system shutdowns, and media errors. Good general-purpose recovery tool.
View DetailsUses IntelligentRebuild technology for advanced file reconstruction. Never modifies original files during recovery.
Try DemoFree recovery tool for both XLS and XLSX files. Good first attempt before trying paid solutions.
Download FreeComprehensive suite that repairs all Office files, Outlook, and ZIP files. Expensive but covers multiple file types.
Get QuoteSome older recovery tools don't support Excel 2007+ (.xlsx) format. Make sure the software supports your file format before purchasing.
When software fails, professional services with human expertise can often recover files that automated tools cannot.
Personal service using free methods. Budget-friendly option with experienced technician.
Contact for HelpAutomated service by Cimaware's parent company. Quick turnaround with good success rate.
Submit FileProfessional data recovery lab with advanced equipment. More expensive but handles severe corruption.
Get QuoteFor valuable business data, professional services are often worth the cost. For personal files, try software solutions first. Always ask about success rates and guarantees before committing.
When all else fails, you can extract text strings and some numbers from corrupted files using text extraction tools.
Command-line extractor for both numbers and text strings. Works with various file formats.
DownloadSimple text string extractor. Works mainly with older XLS files, not XLSX format.
DownloadText extraction only recovers raw text and some numbers. All formatting, formulas, and structure will be lost.