Excel Found Unreadable Content - How to Fix the Issue

Learn about the most effective solutions to tackle the "Excel found unreadable content" error in XLSX files. We recognize the challenges you might encounter when facing this error, which can make it difficult to access your essential data.

Don't allow the "Excel found unreadable content" error to block your access to vital Excel data. Explore this article to uncover the best methods and solutions that will help you overcome this issue and retrieve your data with ease.

Let's start resolving this problem and take back control of your Excel files.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" Error
2. Reasons Behind the 'Excel Unreadable Content' Error
3. How to Resolve the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" Error in XLSX Files
4. Solution 1: Open Your Excel File with Administrative Rights
5. Solution 2: Set the Excel File to 'Read-only'
6. Solution 3: Attempt to Open Your File in Excel 2003
7. Solution 4: Transfer the Excel File to a Different Folder
8. Frequently Asked Questions
9. Concluding Remarks

Understanding the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" Error

The "Excel found unreadable content" error message appears when Microsoft Excel encounters problems while attempting to open a specific workbook. The full error message reads, "Excel found unreadable content in '[filename].xlsx'. Do you want to recover the contents of this workbook? If you trust the source of this workbook, click Yes."

When you opt for the "yes" option, you might face one of two situations. In the first situation, Excel will try to fix or remove the unreadable content in the workbook. Although the file will open, you might experience data loss or inconsistencies, especially with images.

In the second situation, you will see the error message "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened," indicating that the Excel file is severely damaged and cannot be accessed.

The "Excel found unreadable content" error suggests that Excel has detected problematic content within the workbook. Choosing to recover the contents might lead to some data loss or inconsistencies. In severe cases, the file might be so corrupted that it cannot be opened.

Key points:

• The error is triggered when Excel struggles to open a specific workbook.
• Opting to recover the contents might lead to data loss or inconsistencies.
• In severe cases, the file might be completely inaccessible and marked as corrupt.

Reasons Behind the 'Excel Unreadable Content' Error

The "Excel Unreadable Content" error can arise from various factors, and understanding these reasons is essential for finding the right solution. Here are the primary factors that can cause this error:

1. Antivirus & Malware: Viruses and malware can infect Excel workbooks, causing damage and triggering the unreadable content error.
2. Corrupted Excel File: If the entire Excel file or specific elements like Pivot Tables, Styles, or Formulas become corrupted, it can lead to the error message.
3. Excel Program Issues: Outdated or corrupted versions of Microsoft Excel can cause issues when opening files, resulting in the unreadable content error.
4. Encrypted Files: Excel files that are encrypted with certain algorithms may become unreadable if the decryption process fails or if the necessary encryption components are missing.
5. Missing Components: Incomplete or faulty installations of Microsoft Excel can lead to missing essential components, such as the Visual Basic feature, which can contribute to the occurrence of the unreadable content error.

How to Resolve the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" Error in XLSX Files

To resolve the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" error in XLSX files, follow these steps:

Solution 1: Open Your Excel File with Administrative Rights

1. Right-click on the Excel launcher icon and choose the "Run as Administrator" option. This ensures that Excel runs with administrative rights.
2. A User Account Control (UAC) dialog box will appear. Click "Yes" to grant administrative rights.
3. Once Excel opens with admin rights, try to open the specific file that was showing the "Excel Found Unreadable Content in .xlsx" error.

Solution 2: Set the Excel File to 'Read-only'

1. Open your Excel file and click on the "File" tab.
2. Choose the "Save" option if it's a new document, or select "Save As" if it's an already saved file.
3. In the "Save As" dialog box, click on the "Tools" button and select "General Options."
   
4. In the "General Options" window, check the box next to "Read-only recommended" and click "OK." This will set the Excel file as read-only.
5. Open a new Excel file (blank workbook) and copy the entire data from the corrupt Excel file to this new file.
6. Save the new Excel file with a different name or in a different location.
7. Close Excel and reopen it.
8. Try opening the newly saved Excel file to see if the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" error is resolved.

By setting the Excel file to read-only and transferring the data to a new file, you can bypass any corruption causing the unreadable content error. Saving the file with a different name ensures you have a new, intact version of the Excel file.

Solution 3: Attempt to Open Your File in Excel 2003

If the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" error is due to a version mismatch, you can try opening the file in Excel 2003 to resolve the issue. Follow these steps:

1. Open the error-prone .xls file using Excel 2003.
2. Once the file is open, click on the "File" tab.
3. From the drop-down menu, select the "Save" option.
4. In the "Save As" dialog box, choose the "Web Page (.html)" format as the file's "Save as type." Click "Save" to proceed.
5. The data from the .xls file will now be saved in .html format.
6. Next, try opening the saved .html file in Excel 2010/2007.
7. Once the file is open in Excel 2010/2007, save it again with the .xlsx extension. Ensure to provide a new name for the file to avoid overwriting the original one.

By opening the file in Excel 2003 and saving it in .html format, you can potentially resolve compatibility issues causing the unreadable content error. Opening the .html file in Excel 2010/2007 allows you to convert it back to the .xlsx format for continued use.

Solution 4: Transfer the Excel File to a Different Folder

To resolve the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" error, move the affected Excel file to a different folder and save it with a new name. Alternatively, you can save the file to a new folder and then attempt to open it. Here are the steps:

1. Locate the Excel file that is showing the unreadable content error.
2. Right-click on the file and select "Cut" or "Copy."
3. Navigate to a different folder or create a new folder where you want to save the file.
4. Right-click in the new folder and select "Paste" to move or copy the Excel file into the new location.
5. If you copied the file, you can try opening the copied version in Excel to see if the error is resolved.
6. If you moved the file, open the Excel application and use the "File" tab to browse to the new folder where you moved the file. Try opening the file from there.

Transferring the Excel file to a new folder may eliminate any potential file system or folder-specific issues causing the unreadable content error. Saving the file with a new name ensures that you have a separate copy to work with and reduces the chances of overwriting the original file.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes Excel to find unreadable content?

The "Excel found unreadable content" error can be caused by various factors, such as file corruption, compatibility issues, or problems with the Excel application itself.

How can I fix unreadable content in Excel 2010?

To fix unreadable content in Excel 2010, you can try repairing the file using the built-in Open and Repair feature, recovering an earlier version of the file, or converting the file to a different format and then back to Excel.

Why does my Excel file suddenly become corrupted?

Excel files can become corrupted due to various reasons, including sudden power outages, system crashes, virus infections, or issues with the storage device where the file is saved.

How can I repair a corrupted Excel file for free?

You can repair a corrupted Excel file for free by using the Open and Repair feature in Excel, trying third-party file repair tools specifically designed for Excel, or recovering data from a previous backup or temporary file.

How do I fix a corrupted Microsoft file?

To fix a corrupted Microsoft file, you can try using the built-in repair options provided by the respective Microsoft application, such as Excel, Word, or PowerPoint. Additionally, you can use third-party file repair software or recover data from backups or temporary files.

Concluding Remarks

In summary, encountering the "Excel Found Unreadable Content" error can be frustrating, but several solutions are available to resolve the issue. By following the suggested solutions, such as opening the file with administrative rights, setting the file to read-only, trying different versions of Excel, or transferring the file to a new folder, you increase the chances of recovering your data.

It's crucial to back up the original file before attempting any solutions to prevent potential data loss. Additionally, keeping your Excel application and antivirus software up to date can help prevent such errors from occurring initially.

Always trust reliable sources and exercise caution when handling Excel files to minimize the risk of unreadable content errors.

One more thing

If you have a moment, please share this article on your social media; someone else might find it helpful too.

Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to read our future articles, reviews, and blog posts right in your email inbox. We also offer deals, promotions, and updates on our products and share them via email. You won't miss out.

Related articles

» Microsoft Excel is Attempting to Recover Your Information - How to Fix
» Fix "There isn't enough memory to complete this action Excel" Error
» How to Fix "Excel Ran Out of Resources While Attempting to Calculate Formulas" Error

The above is the detailed content of Excel Found Unreadable Content - How to Fix the Issue. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!