How do I open a .XLS file on Windows or Mac?

You can open .XLS files using Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, WPS Office, Apple Numbers. If you do not have native software installed, you can use OpenAnyFile's free File Identifier or convert .XLS to a standard format in your browser.

Is a .XLS file safe to open?

This format carries a safety rating of Medium Risk. Exercise caution when downloading .XLS spreadsheets due to possible embedded Excel macros

Can I convert a .XLS file to other formats?

Yes! .XLS can be converted to formats such as .XLSX, .PDF, .CSV directly in your web browser.

What should I do if a .XLS file is corrupted or won't open?

If your .XLS file displays an invalid header or signature error, check its magic bytes hex header (Varies) using OpenAnyFile's Magic Byte Detector or follow our step-by-step file repair guide.

How do I open .XLS files?

You can open .XLS files using Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, WPS Office, Apple Numbers.

Documents • MIME: application/vnd.ms-excel

.XLS – XLS File Format

Q: What is a .XLS file?

A .XLS file is a XLS File Format associated with Documents. XLS is the legacy binary spreadsheet file format created by Microsoft Excel 97 to 2003, holding cell grids, formulas, charts, and macros.

XLS is the legacy binary spreadsheet file format created by Microsoft Excel 97 to 2003, holding cell grids, formulas, charts, and macros.

Primary Category Documents

MIME Type application/vnd.ms-excel

Magic Bytes Signature Varies

Security Risk Rating Medium Risk

Recommended Software to Open .XLS

Microsoft Excel

windows, mac, linux • Free

LibreOffice Calc

windows, mac, linux • Free

Google Sheets

windows, mac, linux • Free

WPS Office

windows, mac, linux • Free

Apple Numbers

windows, mac, linux • Free