File extension or file format is not valid excel

If you facing the error: "the workbook cannot be opened or repaired by Microsoft Excel because it is corrupted" - you are in the right place!

Here, you will find out:

• 4 methods of how to fix it

• how Excel Recovery can help you

Are you ready? Let's read!

While working with Excel, you may see the message: Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid. This may occur for the following reasons:

• The document is damaged or incompatible with the current version of Excel.

• The document was edited several times in different versions of Excel.

• The Excel file was received by email.

If you still get an error message that Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid, there are some great methods to fix it!

Method 1.Change the file extension!

In all versions of Excel until 2007, documents were saved in the XLS format. But Excel since 2007 saves files in the XLSX format.

A mismatch between file extension and Excel version may cause the error “Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid”. Therefore, all you need is to modify the file format and it will become available.

Open Excel and, on the taskbar, select File. Then select Options -> Export -> Change File Type.

You need to directly change the file extension depending on the version of Excel installed.

Check if the error “Excel cannot open the file” is resolved. If not, read on.

Try to restore Excel from the previous version. Select the damaged file with the right mouse button and click Properties -> Previous Version. A list of previous versions will appear; you need to select the option you are interested in and click Restore.

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