diff --git a/spyder/plugins/variableexplorer/widgets/namespacebrowser.py b/spyder/plugins/variableexplorer/widgets/namespacebrowser.py
index 18e60bacaf8..b7505b9e33e 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/variableexplorer/widgets/namespacebrowser.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/variableexplorer/widgets/namespacebrowser.py
@@ -381,6 +381,15 @@ def load_data(self, filename, ext):
                     "<br><br><tt>{extensions}</tt>").format(
                         extensions=', '.join(IMPORT_EXT))
             return msg
+        except TypeError:
+            msg = _(
+                "Spyder is unable to open the file you're trying to load. "
+                "This could be caused due to a difference between the package "
+                "versions used when you saved this spydata file and the ones "
+                "installed in the current environment. Please check the "
+                "compatibility between them (e.g. that you're using Numpy 2.x "
+                "in both environments).<br>"
+            )
         except (UnpicklingError, RuntimeError, CommError):
             return None