The first way that can be done is to use the open and repair feature of the Excel program. The first step is to open the Microsoft Excel software first, then go to the file menu .

The next step is to click on the open option and press the name of the excel file you want to open. Don’t forget to change the open option in the drop down menu in the lower right corner to the open and repair option .

You only need to wait a few moments for Microsoft Excel to complete the recovery process so that the file can be opened. In general, excel files that initially cannot be opened can be accessed again in this way if the damage is not severe.

B. Open Excel Files in Safe Mode

Another alternative so that the excel file can be opened again is to turn off the excel add-ins and access them using safe mode. First press windows key and R simultaneously or open run.

The next step is to type excel.exe /safe  in the open run dialog box, then click ok. Next, Excel will open normally and can be edited according to the additions that were previously provided.

This method is fairly easy, but you have to wait a few moments until Run can access Excel. However, the important thing for you to know is that this method doesn’t always work to solve problems with Excel files that can’t be opened.

C. Using a Third Party Repair or Recovery Program

Utilizing a third party repair or recovery program is a recommendation for how to deal with excel files that can’t be opened, which you can try next. This repair program is quite tricky to use, so you have to use it carefully so that no hardware, viruses and malware are installed.

There are several third party recovery programs that can be used to solve excel file problems, such as Kernel excel repair software for example. This software is useful for repairing excel files that are damaged and cannot be opened.

The next program is Disk Internals Excel Recovery to repair damaged excel files in a short time without being limited in size. You can also use the EaseUS Repair Tools application to repair files with a real time preview so they can be opened again.

D. Changing the Excel File Extension

The last way to deal with excel files that cannot be opened is to change the extension through the software. Open Microsoft Excel then select the open menu and click on the export option . You can immediately click on the change file type option , then select the file you want to open.

Open the folder where the file is stored, then click tools and press on the view tab. Put a tick in the box containing the file name extension option. The final step is to click on the Excel file that you previously couldn’t open.

You can immediately change the file extension according to a format that is compatible. With Microsoft Excel on the computer. This method can be done quite briefly and does not pose a risk of a virus entering the computer.

The way to deal with the excel file that cannot be opened that has been mentioned can be adjusted. That according to the condition of your device. Choose the method that feels the most effective, so you can open the Excel file immediately.

Other Methods

1. Change the Excel File Extension

Most errors that occur in Excel files are caused by unsupported files or unsupported file extensions. Especially if you haven’t used the latest Microsoft Excel.

To work around this you can take the following steps:

1. Open Microsoft Excel .
2. Open the Open menu and then Export .
3. Click Change File Type and then you can immediately search for the file you want to open.
4. If there is no extension option that matches the file you want to open, it means that the Microsoft Excel you have is not compatible.
5. Open the folder where the file is stored, then click Tools and click the View tab and check the File Name Extension option .
6. Click the file that can’t be opened and change the extension according to your Excel compatibility.

2. Use the ” Open and Repair” feature

If the first step, which in our opinion is quite easy, cannot solve the problem you have. Then you can take advantage of the open and repair feature which is a built-in feature of Microsoft Excel.

To use this feature you can follow the easy steps below:

1. Open Microsoft Excel .
2. Open the Files menu .
3. Go to the Open tab and click options
4. Find the folder where you saved the corrupted file and single-click on the file. However, in the drop-down menu in the lower right corner, replace the Open option with the Open and Repair option .
5. If the damage is not severe, Microsoft Excel should be able to recover and repair the file.

3. Open the File With Safe Mode and Disable Excel Add-Ins

The next step, if you still can’t open the file is to open the file using safe mode and turn off Add Ins Excel. Of course the level of difficulty increases compared to the second step earlier.

To be able to open files in Safe Mode you can do the steps below;

1. Open Run or by pressing Windows key + R.
2. Type exe /safe and immediately click Ok .
3. Excel will open minimally, the alias will not include the Add Ins that you provided before.
4. If Excel actually remains open normally, then you can directly check the add-ons that you have provided manually and manually disable them as well.
5. If it can’t be done, it means you have to proceed to the next method.

4. Open the Excel File with an Earlier or Later Version of Excel

One of the other reasons an Excel file cannot be opened is because the file you have is not compatible. With the version of Microsoft Excel that you have. So one of the solutions that we recommend is to try opening it using another version of Excel.

You can look for your friend’s laptop or computer that has a different Microsoft Excel than yours. You can search for earlier versions of Excel or use later versions of Excel.

If indeed this method is effective, it means that the file you have is not compatible with the Excel you have. You can install Excel according to the file, or change the file format in your friend’s Excel, by saving as .

If it still doesn’t work, it’s time for you to move on to the next method.