"The file is corrupt and cannot be opened"
Excel refuses outright, without offering a repair. Sometimes the file is intact and only blocked; sometimes it really is damaged, and there is still data to save.
What the message says
Excel could not read the workbook package, or refuses to read it from a location it considers dangerous.
Why it appears
- A file received by email or downloaded, blocked by Windows (Protected View): it is intact, Excel only refuses to open it as it is.
- A truncated file: interrupted download, cut-off copy, USB stick pulled out too early.
- A file half-overwritten by an interrupted save (power cut, crash).
Making it go away
- Right-click the file, Properties, tick "Unblock": if the file was only blocked, it opens.
- In Excel: File, Open, select the file, arrow of the Open button, Open and Repair.
- Look for a previous version (OneDrive or SharePoint history, backup, copy sent by email).
The tool that handles it
Recover a damaged file reads the workbook part by part, even truncated, and returns what can be saved: the repaired workbook when possible, and always the values in a new workbook.
Frequently asked questions
- "Open and Repair" did nothing: is it lost?
- Not necessarily: as long as the sheets are in the file, their values can be read, even if the rest is damaged.