Microsoft Excel is widely used by organizations as well as individuals for managing different kinds of data, like daily work records, private information and other tasks.
Sometimes, when you try to open an Excel file, you may meet this error message: “Excel cannot open the file ‘filename.xlsx’ because the file format or file extension is not valid.
Verify that the file has not been corrupted and the file extension matches the format of the file.” What’s wrong with this Excel file? Have you ever encountered this problem?
In general, this error indicates that you can’t open the Excel file. This error occurs for two reasons:
- Incompatible Excel version
- Corrupted or Damaged Excel file
In this article, we will show you all the possible solution to fix the error Excel cannot open the file.
How to Fix Error Excel Cannot Open the File
1. Change the Default File Extension
Invalid file format or file extension is a main course for the error Excel cannot open the file. To fix the problem, you can try changing the default Excel file format or extension.
Follow this tutorial: open Excel application > click File tab in the toolbar > select Export > choose Change File Type > select .xlsx extension
2. Use Open and Repair Feature
If the Excel file is corrupted, you may try Open and Repair, which is a built-in Excel utility that enables you to fix the error excel cannot open the file.
Detailed steps are: Open Excel application > click File on the taskbar > select Open from the list > click the inaccessible Excel file > click Open and Repair
After finishing these steps, it is very possible that the Excel file is able to use again. If this method is cannot open the Excel file, take your time, you can try our 3rd solution.
3. Run Excel File in Safe Mode
If Excel cannot open the Excel file normally, try to run Excel in safe mode.
Press Windows + R keys > type excel /safe in the dialogue> press Enter or click OK. In this way, the Excel program will be opened in safe mode.
