How to Recover Corrupted Macro-Enabled Excel File | 4 Ways

What is a Macro-Enabled Excel File?

A macro-enabled Excel file is saved with the extension .xlsm. These files contain macros—small programs written in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)—that automate tasks. These macros are incredibly useful in business settings where users need to perform repetitive actions, such as formatting data, calculating complex formulas, or generating reports.

Unlike regular Excel files (.xlsx), macro-enabled files can execute embedded VBA code when the user opens them, which is why they have the .xlsm extension. However, with this added functionality, macro-enabled Excel files are also more prone to corruption, especially if you’re not careful with your workflow. 

How to recover corrupted macro-enabled Excel files?In this article, we’ll share 4 simple methods on how to fix corrupted Excel file, along with tips on how to recover Excel files and help prevent future issues.

Reasons for Macro-Enabled Excel File Corruption

Excel files, including those with macros, can get corrupted for several reasons, such as:

How to Recover Corrupted Macro-Enabled Excel Files (Top 4 Ways)

When your .xlsm file refuses to open, don’t panic. There are several recovery options you can try. Below are 5 of the best solutions to recover corrupted macro-enabled Excel files.

1. Use the Open and Repair Feature

One of the quickest ways to fix a corrupted Excel file is by using the built-in Open and Repair feature in Excel. Here’s how to recover macro in Excel using Open and Repair.

Step 1. Open your Microsoft Excel application. Then click Open Other Workbooks > Computer/This PC > Browse.

Step 2. Locate the corrupted Excel file you want to repair.

Step 3. Click “Open” and select the “Open and Repair” option.

Step 4. After that, you can click "Repair" to recover as much data as possible from the workbook. Likewise, if the repair process doesn't work, you can try to extract the original data (values ​​and formulas) from the file by selecting the "Extract Data" option.

2. Restore to a Previously Saved Version

If Excel’s AutoRecover feature is enabled, it automatically saves versions of your file. If your Excel file becomes corrupted after an unexpected shutdown, you can recover an earlier version. This can help prevent further data loss.

Here’s how to recover an unsaved version of your Excel file:

Step 1: Open the corrupted Excel file and click on the File tab.

Step 2: In the Info section, click on Manage Workbook.

Step 3: Select Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

Step 4: Choose the most recent auto-saved file version, click Open, and verify the data. Then, go to File and select Save As to save the recovered file.

3. Set Excel’s Calculation Option to Manual

Sometimes, a corrupted Excel file will fail to open because Excel is trying to calculate complex formulas in the background. By changing the calculation mode to manual, you might be able to bypass this issue.

Step 1. Open a new, blank Excel file. Go to File > Options.

Step 2. Under the Formulas tab, select Manual under the Calculation options. Click OK. Now, try opening the corrupted file.

4. Recover Only the Data from Macro-enabled Excel File

If you only need to recover the data (and not the formulas or macros), you can link the corrupted file to a new Excel workbook using external references.

Step 1. Go to File > New and create a Blank Workbook.

Step 2. In cell A1, type =FileName!A1 (replace "FileName" with the name of the corrupted file, without the extension) and press Enter.

Step 3. When the Update Values dialog box appears, select the corrupted file and click OK. If asked, pick the right sheet and click OK.

Step 4. Click A1 again, go to Home > Copy, and highlight an area that’s the same size as the data in the corrupted file. Click Home > Paste.

Step 5. Select the range again, press Ctrl + C, then click the drop-down arrow under Paste and select Values.

Bonus Tips: How to Recover Unsaved/Deleted/Corrupted Excel Files 🔥

It is essential to take good care of your valuable data. In addition to knowing how to recover corrupted Excel files (with or without macros), it is also important to have a reliable Excel file recovery program to recover lost, deleted, or unsaved files.

MyRecover is an excellent data recovery software and is highly recommended by experts. Whether you have lost Excel files due to accidental deletion, corruption, or system crashes, etc. It can recover Excel files, documents, photos, videos, emails, or other file types with ease.

Now, free download it to recover lost/deleted/unsaved Excel files effortlessly.

Step 1. Select location and click Scan

Install and launch MyRecover. After opening the software, navigate to Advanced Recovery > Disk Data Recovery. Select the drive or location where your Excel files were stored and click Scan.

Step 2. Search for Excel files

The software will begin by running both Quick and Deep Scans to locate lost or deleted files. You can use search & filter features to locate them quickly and double-click to preview them without waiting for the final result. 

Step 3. Recover Excel files

Select the desired Excel files and click Recover.  Choose a new location to save the files. Be sure not to recover them to the original location to avoid data overwriting.

How to Prevent Excel File Corruption

While it's always good to have a backup plan, here are a few ways to prevent Excel file corruption:

• Save Backup Copies: Regularly save backup versions of your Excel files. Excel has an auto-save feature that can help keep a backup every few minutes.
• Enable AutoRecovery: Excel can automatically create recovery files at set intervals to help protect against sudden crashes or power outages.
• Update Excel Regularly: Ensure you’re using the latest version of Excel, as updates can fix bugs and security issues. 
• Use Reliable Antivirus Software: A virus or malware can cause file corruption. Keep your system protected

Conclusion

Dealing with a corrupted macro-enabled Excel file (.xlsm) can be frustrating, but with the right tools and methods, it’s often possible to recover your data and get back to work. Whether you use the built-in repair tools, external references, or a specialized recovery program, these methods should help restore your valuable Excel file.

Don’t forget to back up your important files regularly, so you can avoid future data loss. And, if all else fails, you can always use dedicated data recovery software like MyRecover to recover lost or deleted files.

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