How to repair a corrupted Excel file
- Drop the damaged XLSX, XLSM, XLS or ODS file.
- Click Repair.
- Download the repaired workbook and check it before deleting the original.
“Excel cannot open the file because the file format or extension is not valid”, “We found a problem with some content”, “The file is corrupt and cannot be opened”: these errors appear after an interrupted save, a failed download, a sync conflict or a bad USB stick. In most cases the sheets are still inside the file and only its internal index or one part is damaged.
The repair first rebuilds the file's internal archive from the parts that are still readable, when the index is broken. The workbook is then reopened by a tolerant engine (LibreOffice on our server) and saved again as a clean XLSX, which rewrites every part in the standard form Excel expects. Values, formulas, formatting, sheet names and charts are kept when they survived.
If a part of the file was never written, that part cannot be recovered; the tool saves what exists. Encrypted workbooks must be unlocked first. Open the repaired copy, check the totals, then replace the original. Files are deleted after 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which errors does this fix?
Workbooks Excel reports as corrupt, invalid or with unreadable content, and files whose zip index is damaged.
Will formulas and formatting be kept?
Yes, whatever is still intact in the file: values, formulas, formatting, sheet names and most charts.
Can it recover an unsaved workbook?
No. It repairs a file saved on disk. For an unsaved workbook, look in Excel's AutoRecover folder.
Does it work on .xls and .ods?
Yes, they are reopened and saved as a clean .xlsx.
Is it free?
Yes, no sign-up. The file is deleted from the server after 30 minutes.