Excel files can get corrupted due to several reasons. When you try to open the corrupt file, Excel automatically starts the File Recovery mode and tries to repair it. However, if the recovery mode doesn’t start, then follow the methods discussed in this article to recover the data from the corrupt Excel file. However, before proceeding, let’s know the reasons for the corruption in the Excel file.
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Reasons for Corruption in Excel Files
Corruption in Excel files can occur due to several factors, such as:
- Sudden system shutdown
- Hard drive corruption
- Virus or malware attack
- Mishandling of the Excel file
- Unexpected power failure
- Problematic Microsoft Office updates
Methods to Recover Corrupted Excel Files
Here are some solutions you can try to repair and recover the Excel files in Windows 11.
Method 1: Revert to the Previously Saved Version
Excel saves a version of a file automatically if the AutoRecover feature is enabled. If you’ve accidentally closed your Excel sheet while working and it gets corrupted, you can recover the previously saved version of that file. Below mentioned are the steps to restore the Excel file using the Recover Unsaved Workbooks option:
- Open the corrupt Excel sheet (if it is opening).
- Go to File > Info > Manage Workbook.
- Click on Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
- Choose the available last auto-saved file version and click Open.
- Verify the data.
- Go to File and click Save As to save the file.
Method 2: Set the Calculation Option in Excel to Manual
If you are unable to open the corrupted Excel file, then you can try changing the Calculation settings from automatic to manual. This can help in opening the Excel file. The steps are as follows:
- Go to File >
- Click Blank workbook under the Available Templates
- Go to File > Options.
- The Excel Options window is displayed. Click the Formulas
- Go to the Workbook Calculation section and click the Manual option
- Click on OK.
- Click on the Open tab in the File
- Choose the desired corrupted workbook and then click on Open.
Method 3: Repair Corrupt Excel Files using Open and Repair Utility
Microsoft provides a built-in tool – Open and Repair to repair and restore corrupted Excel worksheets. You can use this utility to repair the corrupt Excel file. Below are the steps to use this tool:
- Go to File >
- In the Open dialog box, choose the corrupted Excel file.
- Click the arrow next to the Open button and choose Open and Repair from the dropdown.
- Click on Repair to recover as much data from the workbook as possible.
Method 4: Repair and Recover Corrupt Excel File using Stellar Repair for Excel
If the Open and Repair utility fails to respond and does not work, you can use professional Excel repair software, like Stellar Repair for Excel. It is a reliable software that can even repair severely corrupt Excel files and recover all its data in just a few steps. Also, it allows you to preview all the recoverable objects before saving them. The software is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7. To repair a corrupted Excel file using Stellar Repair for Excel, follow the below steps:
- Download, install, and launch Stellar Repair for Excel.
- Click Browse to select the corrupt file.
- Click on the Repair option to start the repair process.
- Once the Repair process is complete, you will see all the recoverable objects in a tree-like structure. You can click on any item to see its preview.
- Click Save File under the File menu and then select a location to save the repaired file. Click OK.
Closure
Above, we have mentioned different ways to recover corrupted Excel files in Windows 11. You can revert to the previous version if you’ve enabled Excel’s AutoRecover feature beforehand. You can use Microsoft’s Open and Repair utility to repair the corrupted Excel files. If the Open and Repair utility fails to fix the corrupted Excel file, then you can use an advanced Excel repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Excel. It can repair severely corrupt or damaged Excel (.xls/.xlsx/.xltm/.xltx/.xlsm) files and recover all the data with 100% integrity.
