How to open a .WKS file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no Excel.
Choose your .WKS file
Drag your .WKS file onto the box above, or click Choose file.
Supported
Your .WKS file is opened: every sheet, formula and merged range.
Browse, search, export
Switch sheets, click a cell to see its formula, search the whole sheet and export it as CSV or JSON.
What is a .WKS file?
Everything worth knowing about Microsoft Works Spreadsheet files.
A WKS file is a spreadsheet created by Microsoft Works, the budget office suite Microsoft sold and bundled on consumer PCs from 1987 until it was discontinued in 2009. Modern Microsoft Excel cannot open WKS files because the import filters were removed in Excel 2007. The free LibreOffice Calc opens them and saves to XLSX, ODS, or CSV. The same .wks extension was also used by old Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets; LibreOffice handles both.
Programs that open .WKS files
| Full name | Microsoft Works Spreadsheet |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
| First released | 1987 (Microsoft Works 1.0); .wks spreadsheet through the Works 4.x/2000 line |
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-works |
| Signature | FF 00 02 00 04 04 05 54 02 00 (no printable signature (binary header)) |
Related viewers
Other free viewers for related formats.
Is my .WKS file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your .WKS file is opened for you.
Are formulas recalculated?
The viewer shows the values Excel or LibreOffice saved in the file, plus the formula behind each cell when you click it. It doesn't recalculate, so what you see is exactly what the author saw when saving.
Can I open a password-protected .WKS file?
Not yet. Files encrypted with a password to open are detected and reported; sheets that are only "protected against editing" open normally.
Why doesn't my chart or image show?
This viewer focuses on cell data: values, formulas, merged cells and fill colours. Charts, images and pivot table layouts are not drawn yet.
How big a file can I open?
Up to 50 MB. Large sheets are shown 500 rows at a time so your browser stays fast. Search still covers every row.
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