Connecting data error

[Boris154]

Hi, I have issue while connecting my sources (xls format), my power BI dekstop give me error notifying that an error while trying to connect. details : file contains corrupted data. while I have make sure there my file is fine.please support

[Boris154]

The issue started after microsoft office upgrade from 2016 to 2019, 

currently what I have to do as temporary open the file and save as, but it will take time for me due to the file size is huge. note that there is no label confidential/public/ or else. 

also, I have re-installed the BI for 2times after clearance the cache file as well. any simply workaround for to so no need to open the file first then save it again. thanks in advance and apprciated for all mates here.

[Anonymous]

Hi @Boris154 ,

Thanks for all the replies!
And @Boris154 , to this I would add two possible causes of error:
Please check if the excel file you are connecting to is password protected? You can't connect to password protected files, if the excel requires a password to access it, then I'm sorry you'll have to remove that password to connect.
Solved: DataFormat.Error: File contains corrupted data. - Microsoft Fabric Community

Also could you please check what the sensitivity labels are for all the sheets in your excel file?

If there is a sheet with a sensitivity label Confidential or Highly Confidential that restricts others from viewing it, then the same error will be reported, and you can either change the sensitivity label of the sheet or delete the sheet from the data source.
Solved: File contains corrupted data - Microsoft Fabric Community

Best Regards,
Dino Tao
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[rohit1991]

Hi @Boris154 ,

If you're encountering the "file contains corrupted data" error while connecting an XLS file in Power BI, start by checking if the file opens in Excel—if it does, save it as XLSX and try again. If the file doesn’t open, use Excel’s "Open and Repair" feature (File → Open → Browse → Select file → Drop-down next to "Open" → Choose "Open and Repair"). If the issue persists, check if the file is stored on OneDrive, SharePoint, or a network drive—move it locally and retry.

Ensure your Microsoft Access Database Engine (64-bit) is installed and up to date, as outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues. Alternatively, convert the file to CSV and import it into Power BI. Lastly, check Power Query in the Transform Data window for any errors. If none of these solutions work, try opening the file on another machine or reinstalling Power BI.

[Boris154]

this is the SS

[girishthimmaiah]

The error message has confirmed that there exist corruptions in the Excel file, as Power BI found it. Since you verified that the file is opening just fine in Excel, here are several more solutions:
1. Open it and then Save It Again
Open it with Excel→ click on the File menu; select Save As; choose .xlsx format; save it with a different name.
Then you can try loading the new file into Power BI.
2. Use Excel’s Repair Function
Open Excel → File > Open → Browse to file and select it.
Click the drop-down arrow next to Open, then select Open and Repair.
If prompted, select Repair to fix the file.
3. Check for External Links or Named Ranges
Go to Formulas > Name Manager and remove any broken named ranges.
Check for any external links that might be causing conflicts.
4. Load the File into Power Query (Excel) First
Open Excel → Get Data > From Workbook → Select your file.
If Excel's Power Query can load it, try saving it again and then use it in Power BI.
5. If Not Worked then Try Data Connection through Some Other Way
Instead of Excel, you could try using Folder Connector:
Place it in some folder.
Load data from Power BI by using Get Data > Folder > Combine & Transform.