How to open a .XLS file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no Excel.
Choose your .XLS file
Drag your .XLS file onto the box above, or click Choose file.
Supported
Your .XLS 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 .XLS file?
Everything worth knowing about Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook (Binary Interchange File Format, BIFF8) files.
An XLS file is an old-format Microsoft Excel spreadsheet from the Excel 97-2003 era, saved as a binary file rather than the ZIP-based XLSX used since 2007. You can open it free without buying Excel: Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, and Excel for the web all work. The main concerns are converting it to the modern XLSX format and handling any embedded VBA macros safely.
Programs that open .XLS files
| Full name | Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook (Binary Interchange File Format, BIFF8) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| First released | 1987 (Excel 1.0); BIFF8 .xls used Excel 97-2003; superseded by XLSX in 2007 |
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| Signature | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 ("\xD0\xCF\x11\xE0…" - OLE2 Compound File (CFB) header) |
Related viewers
Other free viewers for related formats.
Is my .XLS file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your .XLS 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 .XLS 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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