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How Can I Recover Excel Corrupt File?
Dealing with a corrupt Excel file can be a frustrating experience, especially when it contains important data. However, there are several methods you can try to recover your corrupted Excel file. In this article, I will guide you through the process step by step, ensuring that you have a comprehensive understanding of each method.
Method 1: Open and Repair
One of the simplest ways to recover a corrupt Excel file is by using the built-in “Open and Repair” feature. This method is available in most versions of Excel, including Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019.
Here’s how to use the “Open and Repair” feature:
- Open Excel and click on “File” in the top-left corner.
- Select “Open” and navigate to the location of your corrupt Excel file.
- Instead of double-clicking the file, right-click on it and choose “Open with” > “Excel Repair.” This will open the “Excel Repair” dialog box.
- Click “Start” to begin the repair process. Excel will analyze the file and attempt to fix any corruption.
- Once the repair is complete, you will be prompted to choose a location to save the repaired file. Click “Save” to finish the process.
Method 2: Use the “Recover Text from Any File” Feature
Another built-in feature in Excel is the “Recover Text from Any File” feature, which can be useful when your Excel file is severely corrupted. This method can recover text from the file, but it may not preserve the original formatting or layout.
Here’s how to use the “Recover Text from Any File” feature:
- Open Excel and click on “File” in the top-left corner.
- Select “Open” and navigate to the location of your corrupt Excel file.
- Instead of double-clicking the file, right-click on it and choose “Open with” > “Notepad.” This will open the file in Notepad.
- Go to “File” > “Save As” and choose a location to save the file.
- In the “Save as type” dropdown menu, select “All Files.” This will allow you to save the file with a .txt extension.
- Click “Save” to save the file as a text file.
- Open the text file in Excel and manually format the data as needed.
Method 3: Use a Third-Party Excel Recovery Tool
When the built-in methods do not work, you may need to turn to a third-party Excel recovery tool. These tools are designed to handle more complex corruption issues and can often recover data that the built-in methods cannot.
Here are some popular third-party Excel recovery tools:
Tool | Description | Price |
---|---|---|
Excel Repair Kit | Recover data from corrupt Excel files, including formulas, charts, and images. | $99.95 |
Recoverit Data Recovery | Recover data from various file formats, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. | Free version available; paid version starts at $79.95 |
Stellar Phoenix Excel Repair | Recover data from corrupt Excel files, including formulas, charts, and images. | $99 |
Method 4: Use the “Previous Versions” Feature
If you have enabled the “Previous Versions” feature on your computer, you may be able to restore a previous version of your corrupt Excel file. This feature is available on Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Here’s how to use the “Previous Versions” feature:
- Right-click on