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Excel file error - the file format and extension don't match

Question

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 8:45 AM

I opened the Excel file and got the error :

"The file format and extension don't match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe."

Please provide solution to handle this error. 

Thanks in advance

Loretta

All replies (16)

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:57 AM âś…Answered

I visited this URL before. I still unable to fix this error. Any other solution Sir?

Please check the permission of the file. Check the permission for everyone then, try to open the file.  

Yes, I do it. Check the security tab from properties and set the permission for EVERYONE. Still stuck with this error.  

Hey LorettaParks,

Did you try any software to repair this Excel file. I will recommend Stellar Phoenix Excel Repair software which comes with Demo version. You can check the preview of your Excel file in the demo version.

Note: First make a copy of your Excel file then try the demo version. 

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 10:48 AM

Hi Loretta,

It will be more helpful if you share the screenshot. 

Thursday, May 24, 2018 4:54 AM

Hello Robin,

Thanks for your reply!

I am unable to attach the screenshot. The forum has limitation. It is not allowing me to add the screenshot.  here is the complete error message:

"the file format and extesnion of 'timesheet.xls' don't match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe. unless you trust its source, dont open it. Do you want to open it anyway?"

YES **     NO      ** Help

Thursday, May 24, 2018 5:07 AM

Click on YES button and share the result

Thursday, May 24, 2018 6:03 AM

Hello Robin,

Thanks for your reply!

I am unable to attach the screenshot. The forum has limitation. It is not allowing me to add the screenshot.  here is the complete error message:

"the file format and extesnion of 'timesheet.xls' don't match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe. unless you trust its source, dont open it. Do you want to open it anyway?"

YES **     NO      ** Help

Hi Loretta,

Does the error only occurs to the particular file "timesheet.xls"?
How did you get the file?

If this is the case, please try to backup the file by saving a copy. Then you can try to launch Excel first, then browse to the copy of the file, choose Open and repair to check the result.

Regards,

Yuki Sun

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Teams.

Friday, May 25, 2018 3:55 AM

Click on YES button and share the result

Hello Robin,

YES button opens Excel file but content is unreadable.. Something special characters which we can't read. It looks like binary language.. 

Friday, May 25, 2018 3:58 AM

Hello Robin,

Thanks for your reply!

I am unable to attach the screenshot. The forum has limitation. It is not allowing me to add the screenshot.  here is the complete error message:

"the file format and extesnion of 'timesheet.xls' don't match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe. unless you trust its source, dont open it. Do you want to open it anyway?"

YES **     NO      ** Help

Hi Loretta,

Does the error only occurs to the particular file "timesheet.xls"?
How did you get the file?

If this is the case, please try to backup the file by saving a copy. Then you can try to launch Excel first, then browse to the copy of the file, choose Open and repair to check the result.

Regards,

Yuki Sun

Hello Yuki,

Thank you for reply

Yes, this is the single file which showing this error. I have created this excel file on my PC. 

I also do the Open and repair and tried repair and extract data option but, not working.

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:18 AM

Hello Yuki,

Thank you for reply

Yes, this is the single file which showing this error. I have created this excel file on my PC. 

I also do the Open and repair and tried repair and extract data option but, not working.

Hi LorettaParks,

Could you please clarify how did you created this file? Was it created directly in Excel? By the way, what's the version of your Excel?

Regards,

Yuki Sun

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Teams.

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:32 AM

Hello Yuki,

Thank you for reply

Yes, this is the single file which showing this error. I have created this excel file on my PC. 

I also do the Open and repair and tried repair and extract data option but, not working.

Hi LorettaParks,

Could you please clarify how did you created this file? Was it created directly in Excel? By the way, what's the version of your Excel?

Regards,

Yuki Sun

I open new Excel file and enter the data and save it. The file had .XLSX extension.. By mistake, I write .xls. It is Excel 2016 file. 

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:34 AM

Click on YES button and share the result

Hello Robin,

YES button opens Excel file but content is unreadable.. Something special characters which we can't read. It looks like binary language.. 

Hi Loretta,

Did you check the online solution for this. Please check this: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Repair-a-corrupted-workbook-153A45F4-6CAB-44B1-93CA-801DDCD4EA53

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:36 AM

Hi LorettaParks,

Please save a copy of the file, then change the extension of the file to .xlsx and check if this helps.

Regards,

Yuki Sun

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Teams.

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:39 AM

I visited this URL before. I still unable to fix this error. Any other solution Sir?

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:40 AM

Also tried this. Not working... 

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:46 AM

I visited this URL before. I still unable to fix this error. Any other solution Sir?

Please check the permission of the file. Check the permission for everyone then, try to open the file.  

Friday, May 25, 2018 4:51 AM

I visited this URL before. I still unable to fix this error. Any other solution Sir?

Please check the permission of the file. Check the permission for everyone then, try to open the file.  

Yes, I do it. Check the security tab from properties and set the permission for EVERYONE. Still stuck with this error.  

Friday, May 25, 2018 5:00 AM

I visited this URL before. I still unable to fix this error. Any other solution Sir?

Please check the permission of the file. Check the permission for everyone then, try to open the file.  

Yes, I do it. Check the security tab from properties and set the permission for EVERYONE. Still stuck with this error.  

Hey LorettaParks,

Did you try any software to repair this Excel file. I will recommend Stellar Phoenix Excel Repair software which comes with Demo version. You can check the preview of your Excel file in the demo version.

Note: First make a copy of your Excel file then try the demo version. 

Let me check this utility. Will let you know