Forum Discussion
Can't open XLSX file, extension not valid
- Dec 14, 2023
If you have already tried common methods to repair a corrupted Excel file without success, and changing the file extension to XLS didn't work, you can try the following additional steps:
1. Open and Repair:
- Open Excel.
- Go to "File" > "Open."
- Navigate to the location of the corrupted XLSX file.
- Select the file, click on the arrow next to the "Open" button, and choose "Open and Repair."
2. Use Excel Viewer:
- Download and install the Microsoft Excel Viewer, which is a free application that allows you to view and print Excel files. Even if you can't edit the file, you might be able to view its contents.
3. Copy and Paste:
- Open a new Excel workbook.
- Try opening the corrupted file in Notepad.
- Copy the content from Notepad.
- Paste the content into the new Excel workbook.
4. Recover Previous Version:
- Right-click on the corrupted file.
- Select "Properties."
- Go to the "Previous Versions" tab.
- Check if there's a previous version of the file available and restore it.
5. Try on Another Computer:
- If possible, try opening the file on another computer with a different version of Excel.
6. Use Third-Party Tools:
- As a last resort, you might consider using reputable third-party file repair tools. Tools like Stellar Repair for Excel, as you mentioned, are designed for this purpose. Ensure you download such tools from trusted sources.
7. Check Event Viewer:
- Open the Event Viewer on your computer.
- Look for any error messages related to the Excel file. This might provide additional information on what's causing the issue.
8. Recover Data from External Hard Drive:
- If the file was originally on an external hard drive, try recovering it from the drive again and see if there were any issues during the transfer.
Remember to create a backup of the corrupted file before attempting any repair methods, especially if you decide to use third-party tools. If none of the above methods work, it might be worth reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance or considering professional data recovery services. The text/steps was revised with the AI.
Hope this will help you.
Was the answer useful? Mark as best response and like it!
This will help all forum participants.
If you have already tried common methods to repair a corrupted Excel file without success, and changing the file extension to XLS didn't work, you can try the following additional steps:
1. Open and Repair:
- Open Excel.
- Go to "File" > "Open."
- Navigate to the location of the corrupted XLSX file.
- Select the file, click on the arrow next to the "Open" button, and choose "Open and Repair."
2. Use Excel Viewer:
- Download and install the Microsoft Excel Viewer, which is a free application that allows you to view and print Excel files. Even if you can't edit the file, you might be able to view its contents.
3. Copy and Paste:
- Open a new Excel workbook.
- Try opening the corrupted file in Notepad.
- Copy the content from Notepad.
- Paste the content into the new Excel workbook.
4. Recover Previous Version:
- Right-click on the corrupted file.
- Select "Properties."
- Go to the "Previous Versions" tab.
- Check if there's a previous version of the file available and restore it.
5. Try on Another Computer:
- If possible, try opening the file on another computer with a different version of Excel.
6. Use Third-Party Tools:
- As a last resort, you might consider using reputable third-party file repair tools. Tools like Stellar Repair for Excel, as you mentioned, are designed for this purpose. Ensure you download such tools from trusted sources.
7. Check Event Viewer:
- Open the Event Viewer on your computer.
- Look for any error messages related to the Excel file. This might provide additional information on what's causing the issue.
8. Recover Data from External Hard Drive:
- If the file was originally on an external hard drive, try recovering it from the drive again and see if there were any issues during the transfer.
Remember to create a backup of the corrupted file before attempting any repair methods, especially if you decide to use third-party tools. If none of the above methods work, it might be worth reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance or considering professional data recovery services. The text/steps was revised with the AI.
Hope this will help you.
Was the answer useful? Mark as best response and like it!
This will help all forum participants.
Unfortunately all steps have failed, altough I don't know how the event viewer works so I gave up on that, so I'll be trying professional help.
Thank you!
- FreondApr 02, 2024Copper Contributor
MathiasssI had the same problem when I copied a good file to a new subfolder. I think this was the issue: This error message occurs when you save or open a file if the path to the file (including the file name) exceeds 218 characters. This limitation includes three characters representing the drive, the characters in folder names, the backslash character between folders, and the characters in the file name.
Hope that helps.