This file can't be previewed because of an error in the Excel Preview Handler

Hi @EL 

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Q&A. 

It appears you're encountering the error file can't be previewed because of an error in the Excel Preview Handler. I know how inconvenient this can be, and I’m here to help you migrate it. 

Here are a few steps you can try to fix the issue: 

1. Restart your cComputer 

Sometimes a simple restart can fix temporary glitches with preview handlers. 

2. Repair Microsoft Office 

• Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features 
• Find Microsoft Office in the list 
• Right-click and choose Change 
• Select Quick Repair (or Online Repair if Quick Repair doesn’t work) 

3. Check File Association Settings 

Make sure Excel files are associated with Microsoft Excel: 

• Right-click the Excel file 
• Choose Open with > Choose another app 
• Select Excel and check Always use this app to open .xlsx files 

4. Clear the Preview Cache 

Sometimes the preview cache gets corrupted: 

• Press Windows + R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations, and press Enter 
• Delete all files in that folder 

5. Update Windows and Office 

Ensure both Windows and Office are fully updated. Outdated software can cause compatibility issues. 

6. Disable Preview Pane (Temporary Workaround) 

If you just need to open the file: 

• Open File Explorer 
• Go to the View tab 
• Turn off Preview Pane 

If the issue persists after trying these steps, please let me know. I’d be happy to assist you further or explore alternative solutions. 

Best regards, 

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Good day @EL  

Hope things are running smoothly on your end. 

Following up on the support thread we've been working on. I hope the information I shared in my previous answer resolve the issue you were facing. If you are still facing the same issue or need assistance with anything else, kindly respond to this email, and I will be happy to help. 

We want to make sure everything is working as expected and that your experience remains uninterrupted. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout the troubleshooting process.  

I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

As other users will also search information in this community, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote, your valuable vote will definitely also help other users who have similar queries easily to find the correct channel and useful information more quickly.     

I appreciate your kind words.   

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.