How to Recover an Excel File Saved as a Web Page
Question details
The user accidentally saved an Excel workbook as a web page, resulting in a blank original file and a newly created HTML file with a supplementary folder.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user pressed Ctrl+S and accepted the prompt to save the workbook as a webpage, which altered the file format and seemingly wiped the original workbook data.
- Observed behavior
- The original Excel file now appears blank, and a new webpage file along with a related folder containing images and files has been created in its place.
Before attempting recovery, ensure you do not overwrite or delete the newly created HTML file or its associated folder, as they may contain recoverable data elements.
Restore an Earlier Version via OneDrive
If your Excel file was synced to OneDrive, you can easily roll back to a previous working version before it was accidentally saved as a web page.
OneDrive automatically keeps a history of your file changes. Restoring a previous version is the most reliable way to recover your Excel workbook with all its original formatting and formulas intact.
Log in to your OneDrive account online or navigate to your local OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
Find the affected Excel file, right-click it, and select 'Version history' from the context menu.
Review the list of previous versions, select a timestamp prior to the accidental save, and click 'Restore'.
Open the restored file to verify the data is intact, then save a copy directly to your local Desktop to ensure Excel is saving correctly.
Extract Data to a New Excel Workbook
If the original file remains corrupted but you can open an older version or the HTML version, transfer the data to a fresh file.
Contact Microsoft Support for Data Restoration
If the file remains blank and cannot be recovered locally or through standard version history, Microsoft Support may be able to investigate and restore the OneDrive data.
Prevent File Corruption with WPS Office
Tired of complicated save dialogs and corrupted files? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Excel with robust auto-backup features to keep your data safe.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer to quickly set up the lightweight office suite on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Files: Open your existing Excel files directly in WPS Spreadsheet with perfect formatting retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel file appear as a folder of images and a webpage?
When you save an Excel file as a Web Page (.htm or .html), Excel creates a main HTML file and a supplementary folder (e.g., filename_files) to store associated assets like images and formatting data.
Can I convert the web page back to a normal Excel file?
You can try opening the .htm file in Excel and then choosing 'Save As' to save it back as an Excel Workbook (.xlsx). However, some complex formulas or advanced formatting may be lost in the initial HTML conversion.
Does saving as a web page delete the original workbook?
If you saved the web page with the exact same name and in the same location as your original workbook, it may have overwritten the file. Always use 'Save As' with a different name to preserve the original file.
How do I check my current Microsoft Office version?
Open any Office application like Excel, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Account' from the menu. Your version and build details will be displayed on the right side under Product Information.
