Fix Corrupt Excel Files in Windows 10 and Recover Lost Data

Microsoft Excel is an extremely useful app that has been helping users for years to organize their data (in text or numbers) easily. It allows you to create spreadsheets effortlessly using built-in templates, carry out critical calculations, insert charts and graphs, share your workbook, and more, thus saving you a lot of time.

However, when the excel file goes corrupt, it can get really frustrating. You may not be able to access your important data properly, just when you want. Such issues can cause loss of data and can thus, be a big headache. So, how do you fix this issue and recover the lost data? Let’s see how.

 

Method 1: How to Fix Corrupt Excel Files in Windows 10 and Recover Lost Data Using Repair Option

 

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon on your Desktop and type Excel in the search box. Click on the result to open an empty Excel sheet.

 



Desktop Windows Icon Search Box Excel

 

Step 2: Once the Excel is open click on the File option on the upper left corner of the sheet to open the context menu.

 

Excel File

 

 

Step 3: Now, click on Open > double-click on This PC on the right.

 

File Option This Pc Double Click

 

Step 4: On double-click, it will open the This PC window. Select the location where you have saved the data file and select the saved file. We have saved it on Desktop, so, we clicked on Desktop and selected the file. Now, under the File Name option at the bottom of the window, click on the drop-down arrow where you see Open.

 

This Pc Desktop Saved Excel File Open Drop Down

 

Step 5: From the drop-down menu select Open and Repair.

 

Open Drop Down Open And Repair

 

Step 6: It will open a prompt with three options – Repair, Extract Data, and Cancel. Select Repair.

 

Prompt Repair

 

Step 7: It takes a few moments to repair the file and then opens the file with a prompt saying it has completed the repair. Click Close and your saved Excel file is now repaired and opened with the data.

 

Prompt Repair Completed Close

 

Method 2: How to Fix Corrupt Excel Files in Windows 10 and Recover Lost Data Using Extract Data

 

Step 1: Open a new Excel sheet, and follow the same instructions from Step 2 to Step 5 in Method 1. Once the prompt pops up, click on Extract Data.

 

Prompt Extract Data

 



Step 2: It will open another prompt with two options – Convert to Value and Recover Formulas. Here we selected Convert to Value.

 

Prompt Convert To Value Recover Formulas

 

Step 3: Another prompt will come up confirming that it completed the data extraction. Click on Close to access your saved Excel data now.

 

Prompt Data Extracted Close

 

You are done repairing and recovering your lost data, You can now easily access your saved Excel data.