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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Most old Excel files open without any repair. A legacy .xls workbook opens in Compatibility Mode in supported desktop versions of Excel. A workbook that Excel reports as corrupted should go through Open and Repair. A file that is missing recent edits can often be recovered through Manage Workbook, Recover Unsaved Workbooks, AutoRecover, or an earlier OneDrive version. Start by working out which of these problems you have, and keep an untouched copy of the file before you try anything else.
Identify which problem you have
The fix depends on the cause, so match your symptom to the first move before you start converting or repairing anything.
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| Symptom | Most likely cause | First move |
|---|---|---|
An old .xls file opens with “Compatibility Mode” in the title bar |
A valid Excel 97–2003 workbook, not damage | Work in it normally; convert later only if you need current features |
| Excel says the workbook is corrupted | Damaged file content | Copy the file, then use Open and Repair |
| The file will not open and Excel reports a disk or network error | A storage or connection fault | Move the file to a local drive or a different disk, then retry |
| You never saved the workbook | An unsaved session that Excel still holds | Recover Unsaved Workbooks |
| You closed a saved file without saving your latest edits | Changes that were never written to the file | Manage Workbook in File > Info |
| You need an older version of a file stored in OneDrive or Excel for the web | A version you want back, but the current copy has later edits | Version history, then Restore |
Open an old .xls file
The .xls extension marks the Excel 97–2003 Binary file format (BIFF8). The .xlsx format, which is XML-based, has been the default since Excel 2007. An old .xls file is a recognised legacy format, not a broken one, so age alone is not a sign of corruption.
- Microsoft’s current support documentation says supported desktop versions open Excel 97–2003 workbooks automatically in Compatibility Mode. That guidance covers Microsoft 365 and Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024.
- If you are using an older Excel release, or a different application, the exact behaviour may differ and is not covered by that guidance.
- On a phone or tablet, check whether the app can edit the format before you assume the file is damaged. Microsoft’s Android compatibility table lists
.xlsas read-only, not editable. Support varies by file format and device.
Repair a workbook that Excel says is corrupted
Before you start, copy the file to a safe location so the original stays untouched. If Excel reported a disk or network error, move the copy to a local drive or another disk first, because repair attempts on an unstable connection can make the problem worse.
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- Open Excel and choose File > Open.
- Browse to the workbook and select it.
- Click the arrow beside Open, then select Open and Repair.
- Select Repair. Microsoft’s instruction is: “To recover as much of the workbook data as possible, click Repair.” Excel may also enter File Recovery automatically.
- If Repair does not recover the workbook, return to the same arrow menu and select Extract Data to try to retrieve values and formulas.
When repair and extraction both fail
Microsoft documents several salvage attempts. None is guaranteed, and each one has a cost, so try them on the copy only.
- Revert to the last saved version. If the corruption happened while the workbook was open and you had made unsaved changes, reopening the workbook returns it to the last saved version. The unsaved changes that caused the corruption are discarded.
- Set calculation to manual before opening. Change the calculation mode to manual in Excel Options, in the Formulas section, and then open the workbook. This can help when recalculation is the trigger.
- Use external references when you only need cell data. If you only need values from a damaged workbook, linking to it from a new workbook can pull cell data without opening the damaged file directly.
- Save as SYLK. Saving in the SYLK format can filter out some corrupt elements. SYLK keeps only the active worksheet, so you must repeat the process for each sheet, and workbook features can be lost.
Microsoft’s guidance mentions third-party repair software only in general terms, after its own methods fail. It does not name or validate any product, so the reliability of any such tool is not established by that guidance. If you use one, run it on a copy.
Recover edits from a file that was closed without saving or never saved
A previously saved file closed without saving your latest edits
Open the workbook and choose File > Info. Under Manage Workbook, look for the item marked “(when I closed without saving)”. Opening it shows the recovered version. Restoring it overwrites the latest saved version, so save a copy of the current file first if you may still need it.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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Choose File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Workbooks. Open the recovery file you want, then use Save As to keep it under a permanent name. Unsaved workbooks are not kept indefinitely, so act promptly.
Document Recovery after an unexpected closure
When Excel restarts after a crash or power loss, the Document Recovery pane may offer the latest saved file, an AutoSaved file, or an AutoRecovered file. Which of these appears depends on the storage location and the application’s state at the time. Compare the options by their timestamps and open each one before choosing a version to keep.
AutoRecover
AutoRecover writes recovery copies at intervals, but only if it was enabled. Microsoft’s AutoRecover settings page gives 10 minutes as the default interval. You can change it under File > Options > Save. The publication year of that page is not stated in the source, so treat the 10-minute figure as the default described in the current documentation rather than a date-specific value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Restore an earlier version from OneDrive or Excel for the web
If the workbook is stored in OneDrive or opened in Excel for the web, version history may hold an earlier copy.
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- Open the file and find Version history in the file’s menu.
- Select a version saved before the problem occurred.
- Choose Restore.
Restoring replaces the current version, so edits made after the selected version are lost. If you might need the current copy, save or download it before restoring. Menu positions vary by app and version, so if Version history is not where these steps place it, look for the same option elsewhere in the file’s menus.
Convert the old workbook without losing features
Convert only after you have confirmed the file opens and its contents are what you need. Microsoft warns that changing formats can lose features or formatting, so keep the original until you have checked the converted copy.
| Format | What it is | Stores VBA macros? |
|---|---|---|
.xls |
Excel 97–2003 Binary (BIFF8), opens in Compatibility Mode | Yes, in the legacy format |
.xlsx |
Default XML-based workbook since Excel 2007 | No. VBA macros cannot be stored |
.xlsm |
Macro-enabled XML workbook | Yes |
To convert, open the workbook and choose File > Info > Convert. If the workbook contains VBA macros, choose a macro-enabled target such as .xlsm, because converting to .xlsx removes them. Microsoft also lists .xlsb among current workbook formats; this guide does not cover its macro behaviour.
Limits of these steps
- Menu labels vary across desktop, web, and mobile apps, and across Excel versions. The steps above follow Microsoft’s current support guidance, which covers Microsoft 365 and Excel 2016 through 2024.
- No method is guaranteed to recover every workbook. The fallbacks above are attempts, and their results depend on the damage.
- Keep copies of important workbooks in a separate location. Recovery features help after a loss, but they are not a backup.
Work through the sections in the order the symptom points you: compatibility first, then repair, then recovery of unsaved or earlier versions, and conversion last.
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