A lot of professionals’ daily chores have become a lot easier thanks to Excel and other Microsoft Office programmes. Microsoft Excel has always been helpful, whether you need to make records or tables for work. But Excel can make mistakes too. In this article we will explain you how to Fix ‘Excel Found Unreadable Content’ Error.
Unreadable content is made up of functions and parts used in an Excel file that are not recognized or are not compatible with other formats. Any automatic changes to the file basic settings can cause problems when a complicated Excel file was made to help with numbers and needs specific macros and formulas.
All the functions and features that were added at the beginning may work perfectly in this kind of Excel file. Users may get the “Excel found the unreadable content error” when they try to open the same data again. This error happens because some items or parts of the Excel file have been changed or removed, which causes problems.
What Does Excel Found Unreadable Content Error?
When Microsoft Excel is trying to open a workbook and runs into problems, the “Excel found unreadable content” message shows up. “Excel found unreadable content in ‘[filename].xlsx’,” says the whole error message. Do you want to get back the information in this workbook? Click “Yes” if you believe the source of this exercise.
There are two possible outcomes if you choose the “yes” choice. In the first case, Excel will try to fix or get rid of the content in the file that can’t be read. Even though the file will open, data loss or errors may happen, especially with pictures. You can find out more by going to the official site.
Why ‘Excel Found Unreadable Content’ Error
- Incomplete download: If the Excel file wasn’t downloaded all the way, some of its data could be missing or mixed up, which could cause mistakes.
- Disc errors: Problems with your hard drive, like bad sectors, can make it impossible to save or move files correctly.
- Viruses or malware: Bad software can mess up files, like Excel spreadsheets, by adding mistakes and making them less stable.
- File upload errors: If there are problems or interruptions in the network while the files are being sent, the data in the spreadsheet can become corrupt.
- Different file format: If you try to open an Excel file saved in a format that your version of Excel doesn’t allow, you might get an error.
- Problems with the Excel programme: Old or broken versions of Excel may read some data incorrectly, leading to mistakes.
Fixed: ‘Excel Found Unreadable Content’ Error
Reopen Excel
Reopening a file can fix a lot of problems that happen when you try to open it. When you start a file in MS Excel, the information is moved from your hard drive or solid-state drive to your RAM. This is a vulnerable memory, which means that if the power goes out or there are other problems with the system, the data could become corrupt. Close the MS Excel file and then open it again to fix the “Excel found unreadable content.xlsx” problem. There are times when this process of restarting can fix the issue.
Change the Default File Format
- Start up your Excel programme.
- Click on Options from the File menu.
- To save workbooks, go to the Options box and click on “Save files in this file format.”
- Pick a file type that works with your version of Excel.
Repair Your Excel Worksheet
- Start up your Excel programme.
- Select “Open” from the menu.
- You need to select the Excel file you wish to fix in the “Open” box and then click on the arrow next to “Open.”
- Pick Open and Repair from the drop-down menu.
- You are asked to either fix the file or get the data out of it in a dialogue box.
- Select “Repair” from the menu.
Change the Excel File Location to a New Folder
A lot of people have confirmed that moving the Excel file to a different folder doesn’t affect their ability to read it. You can try changing the Excel file that is giving you trouble to a different folder and see if that fixes the problem.
FAQs
A virus or malware attack, a sudden machine shutdown while the Excel file is still open, losing power while working on an Excel spreadsheet, and other things can all damage an Excel file.
If the damage is severe, Windows will give you an error message if you try to open a damaged file. The document’s directory entry may be jumbled, making it hard for the computer to find, or the data itself may be damaged, stopping the drive from opening the file.
A file transfer is often enough to fix a damaged file. You can fix files with tools. Use a file repair tool if you really need to fix the file and get your data back. Tools like Hetman, Repair Toolbox, and FileRepair are both free and cost money.
