The File you are Trying to Open is in Different Format than Specified by the File Extension

“I have several excel files in my desktop. Currently, I re-install the Windows Operating System. After that when I tried to open excel files it always shows me an error such as The file you are trying to open is in a different format than specified by the file extension. Do you want to open the file now? I have 450 excel files in my folder, most of them are being corrupted. So, please suggest me an alternative to fix this error instantly. Thanks.”

Excel is the superiorly utilized application all over the globe. Mainly, it is used by both the large and small organizations for maintaining their valuable data. Managing data is the crucial step for any user either normal ouseofessional simultaneously. But, sometimes the MS Excel file gets corrupted due to many reasons and start showing tiresome errors. So, here in this write-up, we are going to explain most commonly occurred error the file you are trying to open is in a different format than specified by the file extension. This the file you are trying to open is in different format than specified by the file extension error is faced by the users every single time when they are trying to open their excel file.

Reasons Behind The Occurrence Of This Error

There are several causes of this error. Some of them are stated below.

• The file users are trying to open is not present on the specified location.
• There is an incompatibility between the file extension and the actual files content.
• Due to the corruption of the Excel file.
• The saved file is in the different format

How To Fix This Error Manually?

This free solution is divided into two approaches. Mainly, this procedure is going to repair your workbook. To implement this process you need to follow all the below-listed steps:

Technique #1: Fix The Corrupted Workbook

• Initially, click on File and then Open.
• Then, hit on the location and folder that consists the corrupted workbook.
• After that, in the Open dialog box, choose the corrupted workbook.
• Hit the click on the arrow next to the Open button, and select Open and Repair option.
• Now, retrieve as much of the workbook data as possible, choose Repair.
• If you are unable to recover data by using this solution. So, select Extract Data to extract formulas and values from the workbook.

If these steps are not able to resolve your issue. So, you can switch to another method.

Technique #2: Recover From A Backup Copy

With the help of a backup copy of your workbook. You will always have access to your data if your workbook is deleted unintentionally or if it becomes corrupted by chance.

• First of all click on File>>Save As
• Hit on Computer, after that choose the Browse button.
• Here, in the Save As dialog box, hit the arrow next to Tools, and select General Options.
• Now, check the Always create a backup box in the General Options dialog box.

Generate a Recovery File At Set Intervals For Future Security Purpose

These are the measures to a recovery file of your workbook. Mainly, it helps you to make sure that you will have access to your data if your workbook is deleted unintentionally or if it becomes highly corrupted.

• Firstly, click on File and then Options
• Here, under the Save category, in Save workbooks, you have to click on the Save AutoRecover information every box, and then add a number of minutes.
• Now, in the AutoRecover file location box, insert the location where you need to store the recovery file.
• At last, ensure that the “Disable AutoRecover” for this workbook only box is unchecked.

What If The Free Solution Doesn’t Work Appropriately?

Free does not mean always free. You all know very well, that the manual solution having some limitations. The constraints directly affect the procedure. So, it is better to move to another technique named as Excel Recovery software. This is an eminently utilized by many experts all over the world. This facilitates efficient features and functionalities to the users. Moreover, this application is capable enough to provide you satisfactory resultant. Mainly, this recover worksheet or spreadsheet data from corrupt Excel Workbook. The tool auto-detect damaged Excel files and recover multiple Excel Workbook at once. This software supports to repair Excel file of Microsoft Office 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 etc.

Final Verdict

Hope this write-up will help you to repair this error The file you are trying to open is in a different format than specified by the file extension in an effective manner. We tried our best to facilitates the workarounds to repair the error. But, if you are thinking to fix the issue using manual solution. So, please think twice. Moreover, we recommend an alternative solution to eliminate this error. Because it is one of the best application to resolve this issue within a few clicks.