What is xlsx file in excel

xlsx file extension is a Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet (XLSX) file created by Microsoft Excel. You can also open this format in other spreadsheet apps, such as Apple Numbers, Google Docs, and OpenOffice. They are stored as a compressed Zip file, which contains a bunch of other files used to open the document.

Contents

  • 1 How do I open an XLSX file in Excel?
  • 2 What is difference between XLS and XLSX files?
  • 3 Is Excel workbook the same as Xlsx?
  • 4 How do I view xlsx files?
  • 5 Are xlsx files safe?
  • 6 What is difference between xlsx and CSV?
  • 7 How many records does xlsx hold?
  • 8 What is XLSM vs xlsx?
  • 9 How do I convert Excel to xlsx?
  • 10 How do I create an xlsx file?
  • 11 What is macro in Excel?
  • 12 What is XLSM extension?
  • 13 Why can’t I open XLSX files?
  • 14 Is Microsoft Excel free?
  • 15 Can Xlsx have a virus?
  • 16 Can an Excel file carry a virus?
  • 17 Can Xlsx contain macros?
  • 18 What is .CSV used for?
  • 19 Is CSV faster than XLSX?
  • 20 How do I convert XLSX to XLS?

How do I open an XLSX file in Excel?

Opening XLSX files with Excel

  1. Step 1: Double click on the XLSX file.
  2. Step 2: Drag and drop the XLSX file onto an Excel window to open it.
  3. Step 3: “Open with” – open the XLSX file in Excel using the right-click menu.

What is difference between XLS and XLSX files?

XLS files are based on the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF) and store information in binary format as per XLS File Format Specifications.In contrast, an XLSX file is based on Office Open XML format that stores data in compressed XML files in ZIP format.

Is Excel workbook the same as Xlsx?

The “default” file extension is XLSX. The large majority of Excel workbooks uses this format these days. Microsoft says in the Excel help text about the XLSX file format: The default XML-based file format for Excel 2007-2013.

How do I view xlsx files?

Although Microsoft Excel (version 2007 and newer) is the primary software program used to both open XLSX files and edit XLSX files, you can install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to open, edit, and save XLSX files using an older version of Excel.

Are xlsx files safe?

xlsx file may briefly contain a macro virus while that file is open in Excel. However, saved copies of that file are rendered “safe” because all VBA code (including the macro virus) will be removed automatically as part of the “save” operation.

What is difference between xlsx and CSV?

CSV files are commonly used for data exchange between platforms, making the data “raw” again so it can be processed by different applications. This is the most flexible data format. XLSX is the file extension for a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.This makes the data easy to re-group, combine, and re-format.

How many records does xlsx hold?

1048576 rows
There are different number of rows and columns supported by Excel formats. For example, XLS supports 65536 rows and 256 columns while XLSX supports 1048576 rows and 16384 columns.

What is XLSM vs xlsx?

xlsm” is basically the same as “. xlsx” and can be opened with Excel 2007 and above. The only difference is that “. xlsm” starts the macro.

How do I convert Excel to xlsx?

Click on the Office button, then Convert. You can also try opening the . xls file in Excel > then use the Save As command to save as an “Excel Workbook”. Once you select that file type, the file extension will be xlsx and you can delete the old xls version.

How do I create an xlsx file?

Create a Table in Excel XLSX File in C#

  1. Load an Excel workbook or create a new one using Workbook class.
  2. Add data to the cells of the worksheet.
  3. Add a new ListObject to the worksheet.
  4. Set ListObject. ShowTotals property to true.
  5. Calculate the total and save the workbook as an Excel . xlsx file.

If you have tasks in Microsoft Excel that you do repeatedly, you can record a macro to automate those tasks. A macro is an action or a set of actions that you can run as many times as you want. When you create a macro, you are recording your mouse clicks and keystrokes.

What is XLSM extension?

Files with XLSM extension is a type of Spreadsheet files that support Macros.XLSM files are similar to XLM file formats but are based on the Open XML format introduced in Microsoft Office 2007. In other words, XLSM are XLSX files but with support of macros.

Why can’t I open XLSX files?

When the Excel file is corrupted, not compatible with the Excel version, infected by the virus, or received by email, these are the common causes of the “Excel cannot open the file because the file format or file extension is not valid” problem. If any of these problems appear, you can’t open your XLSX file.

Is Microsoft Excel free?

Microsoft Office Is Now Free for iPhones, iPads and Android
Office users will now be able to create and edit documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint on iPhone, iPad and Android devices at no cost. Making full use of the apps previously required a subscription to Office 365, which starts at $70 per year.

Can Xlsx have a virus?

Microsoft Office files, especially Word documents (DOC, DOCX), Excel spreadsheets (XLS, XLSX, XLSM), presentations, and templates, are also popular with cybercriminals. These files can contain embedded macros — small programs that run inside the file. Cybercriminals use macros as scripts for downloading malware.

Can an Excel file carry a virus?

The infected Excel documents contain a malicious macro virus, which can infect a computer’s system when a document is opened or closed.

Can Xlsx contain macros?

xlsx)—does not support macros.xlsx file, Excel displays a message indicating that you can’t include the macro. To include macros in a workbook, you must save the workbook in the Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (. xlsm) format or as a macro-enabled template (.

What is .CSV used for?

A CSV file is a commonly used file extension when it comes to spreadsheets. Even software programs that don’t look and feel like a spreadsheet application will frequently offer a CSV as an output file for downloading a data set, such as a report of results, actions, or contacts.

Is CSV faster than XLSX?

Comparing CSV vs Xlsx, CSV files are faster and also consumes less memory whereas Excel consumes more memory while importing data. Comparing CSV vs Excel, CSV files can be opened with any text editor in windows while Excel files can’t be opened with text editors.

How do I convert XLSX to XLS?

To get started, kindly perform the following steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Go to the View Tab.
  3. Tick File name extensions under Show/Hide.
  4. Go to the folder where you Excel file is stored.
  5. Right-click on the Excel File.
  6. Select Rename.
  7. Rename “. XLSX” to “. XLS”.
  8. Click Enter once done.

Probably 99% of all Excel workbooks are saved in the XLSX file type these days. But there are various other file extensions available: For example XLSM, XLSB or “older” Excel users might still remember the XLS file type. What are the differences of these file types? And even more important: Which one should you use?

excel, file type, file types, types, save as, extension, xlsx, xlsb
Excel provides 29 different file types when you save your Excel workbook.

When you save an Excel workbook for the first time or use the “Save As” function, you are asked for a folder, file name as well as the file type. By default, Excel suggests the XLSX file type (unless your file has VBA macros). The window looks similar to the screenshot on the right side.

So which file type are you going to use? The answer – like so often: It depends. Before we conclude in a decision tree, we we take a look at the most important file extensions in Excel with their advantages and disadvantages first.

XLSX

The “default” file extension is XLSX. The large majority of Excel workbooks uses this format these days. Microsoft says in the Excel help text about the XLSX file format:

The default XML-based file format for Excel 2007-2013. Cannot store Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro code […].

Most of the time you use the XLSX format: It’s save (can’t store malicious code), has the maximum number of rows and columns and is best known. XLSX is available since Excel 2007 and replaces the old XLS file type. It uses the open XML standard so which is documented well.

Knowing these quick facts, there are the following advantages and disadvantages for the XLSX file format:

Advantages Disadvantages
  • The default file format and because of that the best known and widest spread file type.
  • Can use up to 2^20 (1048576) rows and 2^14 (=16384) columns.
  • Uses the open file format and is in general accessible with other applications.
  • Secure because it can’t save VBA macros.
  • Can use and save all the functions available in Excel.
  • A little bit contradicting: But not being able to include VBA macros can be an advantage and disadvantage at the same time.
  • Needs more disk space than other file formats (e.g. XLSB).
  • Can’t be opened with Excel versions before 2003 (e.g. 2003, at least without any further conversion of Excel extension/ add-in).

XLS

advice, xls, file type, extension, excel

The XLS file type has been the default Excel file extension and format before Excel 2007. In Excel 2007, XLSX replaced the XLS format. Therefore, XLS is kind of outdated right now. In the daily life you won’t find it often any more. But some data base tools still export data as XLS files.

The XLS file type has some disadvantages towards the newer file types XLSX or XLSM: It’s rather unsafe as it can contain VBA macros with malicious code. Also, it needs more disk space than the other file types and at the same time has less rows and columns.

On the other side the only advantage: You can easily open XLS files with older versions of Excel.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Can be opened with Excel versions before 2007 (e.g. 2003).
  • Unsafe as it can contain VBA macros.
  • Needs more disk space than most of the other file formats (e.g. XLSX, XLSB).
  • Can’t use all newer Excel functions, e.g. formulas or functionality (you will be warned when saving an XLS file though).
  • Can only use up to 65,536 (2^16) rows and 256 (2^8) rows.
  • Outdated…

XLSM

If you include VBA macros in your XLSX file, you will be asked to change the file extension to XLSM. Only that way you can save your macro within the Excel file (there are other file types possible, e.g. XLSB – but you can’t use XLSX for VBA macros). Therefore, it has most of the advantages and disadvantages of the XLSX file type. Positive: You can immediately identify Excel files with VBA macros.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • The default Excel file type for workbooks with VBA macros.
  • Can use up to 2^20 (1048576) rows and 2^14 (=16384) columns.
  • Uses the open file format and is therefore accessible with other applications.
  • Can use and save all the functions available in Excel.
  • Uses the open XML standard.
  • Unsafe: Can contain malicious code within the VBA part.
  • Needs more disk space than other file formats (e.g. XLSB).
  • Can’t be opened with Excel versions before 2003 (e.g. 2003, at least without any further conversion of Excel extension/ add-in).

XLSB

advice, xlsb, excel, file, type

Many people don’t know that there is an actual alternative to the XLSX and XLSM file type: The XLSB file extension. XLSB files store the data a little bit different than the XLSX or XLSM file types: They don’t use the XLM file structure. Instead, XLSB files try to save disk space because the data is stored in the binary structure. The main difference: Binary files are computer- but not human-readable. For more information on binary files in general, please refer to this Wikipedia entry.

The main disadvantage: Binary Excel files can contain VBA macros. So unless you don’t know the origin of a file, please consider well before opening them. Besides that: All the other disadvantages seem minor.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Smaller file size.
  • Faster opening and closing of files.
  • Formulas with more than 8192 characters allowed.
  • Can use and save all the functions available in Excel.
  • Security: Files can contain VBA code whereas XLSX files can’t.
  • You can’t change the Excel ribbon.
  • Some third party tools (e.g. OpenOffice) might not be able to open your file.
  • You can’t open your files with Excel 2003 or earlier (which nowadays should not be a problem any more…).
  • Not very well known. So people might get confused receiving XLSB files from you.

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CSV

csv, advice, excel, export

CSV stands for comma separated values. These files are basically plain text – so there are no formulas or formatting. CSV is often used for data exchange. Excel provides the functionality to import or even directly open CSV files.

The basic application for CSV files: Import or export data. Data base programs often export data as CSV files. Also if you want to transport Excel data into a database program, often the CSV file type works.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Smaller file size.
  • Faster opening and closing of files.
  • Unlimited rows and columns.
  • No code or macros possible and therefore save to open.
  • CSV files are basically text documents and therefore can’t contain formulas or formatting, pure data.
  • No more than one “worksheet”.

ODS

ODS stands for Open Document Spreadsheet. The file type is designed to work on both Excel and other applications, e.g. LibreOffice. From the Excel point of view, ODS doesn’t support all the features. Text and data is usually saved well though. But formatting and many other features (for example charts, tables, conditional formatting) might run into problems.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Can be opened in Excel and LibreOffice.
  • You might lose formatting or features which are not supported. For a detailed lists of the features supported, please refer to this website.

XLSX (Strict)

Besides the regular XLSX format, Excel offers to save your Excel workbook as “Strict Open XML Spreadsheet”. So what is the difference between those two? Basically, the two file types use the same structure. But:

The Strict variant has less support for backwards compatibility when converting documents from older formats.

Furthermore:

The Strict variant of XLSX disallows a variety of elements and attributes that are permitted in the more common Transitional variant […]

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Same as XLSX.
  • Additionally: Opening in other applications than Excel might work better.
  • Some backward compatibility problems might occur.

PDF

pdf, advice

As you’ve probably heard of PDF files, we won’t go much into detail here. PDF stands for portable document format and has the reputation of not easily being manipulated. Also, it’s quite save to say that how a PDF file looks on your computer, it will most probably look like this on most other computers.

And that’s it for the advantages. I recommend using it when you present your final results in the following cases:

  • The recipient of your file should not edit it any more.
  • Formatting should be exactly preserved.
  • There is no database included, just the summarized results.

That could be the case if somebody wants to check your results on an iPad or a similar device. But: In many cases it would be professional (and nice) to also send at least parts of your Excel file. That way, your recipient could at least take a look at the calculation process.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Static, therefore contents can not (easily) be manipulated.
  • The document always look the same.
  • No macros.
  • Formulas etc. will be lost.
  • Difficult (and troublesome) to further edit the file.
  • (Depending on the contents) large file size.

XLAM

XLAM is the file extension for Excel add-ins. Also our add-ins (for example the popular “Professor Excel Tools“) are XLAM files. They can contain VBA macros, worksheets as well as forms, images and individual ribbons. If you double click on such file, it will open in Excel and you can use the funcationality of the add-in. But next time you open Excel again, it won’t be available any longer. You rather have to enable the add-in within the options (File –> Options –> Add-Ins).

As the XLAM file type is not really an alternative for all the other file extensions above, we skip the advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison of file types

So if we put all the advantages, disadvantages and facts from above together, we come to the following comparison:

Which file type should you use?

Decision Tree

In order to define the best file type for your Excel workbook, please follow the decision tree.

Follow the Professor Excel decision tree for finding the best file type for your Excel workbook.
  • The first question: Do you just want to display your results only? Then you could also consider the PDF format. But if the recipient of your work wants to edit or follow up your calculations, you shouldn’t use PDF.
  • Does your file contain VBA macros?
    • If yes, choose XLSB if you have a large file. Choose XLSM for a file size smaller than app. 10 MB.
    • If no and you got a large file (larger than app. 10 MB), also choose XLSB.
    • If no (you don’t have macros) and your file small, follow the tree on the right hand side.
  • The lower two levels of the decision tree are just about compatibility: If you want to open and edit your workbook with another software, choose the strict XLSX or ODF format.
  • If you want to make sure that you can open it with versions of Excel 2003 or earlier, go for XLS.

Summary

In conclusion, you can distill a quite short table (if you don’t need to consider old file types and other applications as LibreOffice). You just have to answer two questions: Do you need VBA macros and do you work with a large amount of data?

summary, file type, xlsx, xlsm, xlsb

What to Know

  • An XLSX file is a Microsoft Excel Open XML Format Spreadsheet file.
  • Open one with Excel, Excel Viewer, Google Sheets, or another spreadsheet program.
  • Convert one to CSV, XLS, ODS, etc., with some of those programs or a converter like ConvertFiles.com.

This article explains what XLSX files are, how to open them, and which programs are able to convert them to other spreadsheet formats like CSV or ODS.

What Is an XLSX File?

A file with the XLSX file extension is a Microsoft Excel Open XML Format Spreadsheet file. It’s a ZIP-compressed, XML-based spreadsheet file created by Microsoft Excel version 2007 and later.

XLSX files organize data in cells that are stored in worksheets, which are in turn stored in workbooks (files that contain multiple worksheets). The cells of a spreadsheet are positioned by rows and columns and can contain styles, formatting, math functions, and more.

Spreadsheet files made in earlier versions of Excel are saved in the XLS format. Excel files that support macros are XLSM files.

Lifewire / Chloe Giroux


How to Open an XLSX File

Unless you’ve purposely installed a program to your computer that can open XLSX files, then double-clicking on one won’t do anything useful. Instead, you need to have a specific program on your computer that can recognize the XLSX file.

Although Microsoft Excel (version 2007 and newer) is the primary software program used to both open XLSX files and edit XLSX files, you can install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to open, edit, and save XLSX files using an older version of Excel.

If you have no intention to edit the XLSX file, and you just want to view it, you can install the free Microsoft Excel Viewer. It supports printing and copying data out of the XLSX file, too, which might be all you need to do.

You can also open and edit XLSX files without Excel, completely free, using WPS Office Spreadsheets, OpenOffice Calc, or LibreOffice Calc. If you’re on a Mac, Apple Numbers supports XLSX files, too (but not all features will work).

Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel Online, and Zoho Docs are a few other ways you can open and edit XLSX files for free. Going this route requires you to upload the XLSX file to the website before you can make any changes.

If you use the Chrome web browser, you can install Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides as an extension, which lets you open and edit XLSX files directly in the browser, either by dragging a local XLSX file into Chrome or opening one from the internet without having to download it first.

How to Convert an XLSX File

If you have one of the applications we’ve already mentioned installed on your computer, it’s recommended to use that same program to save whatever XLSX you’re working with to the specific format you’re interested in. This is normally done through the File > Save as menu option.

For example, if you’re using Excel, go through its FILE > Save As > Browse menu and choose CSV, XLS, TXT, XML, etc. The F12 key should also work to get to the Save As window.

Converting an XLSX File to CSV With Excel.

Sometimes the quickest solution to convert an XLSX file isn’t with a tool you have installed, but instead via a free file conversion software program or online service like Zamzar.

Just looking at the capabilities of those two services, you can convert whatever Excel file you have to many different file types, like XLSX to CSV, XML, DOC, PDF, ODS, RTF, XLS, MDB, and even image and web file formats like JPG, PNG, and HTML.

TinyWow can split an Excel file if you want the XLSX file to end up as multiple files. That same site has an Excel to XML converter, and others that can save the file to PDF or CSV.

Still Can’t Open the File?

The most likely reason for why the file won’t open at this point, if you’ve tried all the suggestions above, is that you’re not really dealing with an XLSX file. This might happen if you’ve only briefly looked at the file extension and are confusing it for an Excel file.

For example, maybe your file really ends in .LSX, in which case it’s a Streaming Media Shortcut file and has nothing to do with Excel. Windows Media Player opens LSX files.

Similarly, it’d be easy to confuse an SLX file for one that has the Excel XLSX suffix, but SLX files are also unrelated to Excel and are instead used by programs like Simulink and SpectraLayers.

XLR is another one that’s easy to mix up for an Excel file.

If you can’t open the file, re-read the extension and research it online. It should be fairly easy to find more information about the format and learn which programs are able to open and convert it. We may even have a description of it here on Lifewire—use the search box at the top of this page to check.

FAQ

  • How do I read an XLSX file in R?

    To read an XLSX file in R, first copy the data from Excel, then import data from the clipboard into R.

  • How do I read an XLSX file in Python?

    You can read the file with the Python module named openpyxl. Download the openpyxl module, then use the Python import command to read the data from the XLSX file.

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Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

What is an XLSX file?

An XLSX file is an Excel spreadsheet created by Microsoft Excel or exported by another spreadsheet program, such as OpenOffice Calc or Apple Numbers. It stores data in worksheets, which contain cells arranged in a grid of rows and columns, and may also contain charts, mathematical functions, styles, and formatting. XLSX files are commonly used to store financial data and to save simple or complex mathematical models.

More Information

Screenshot of a .xlsx file in Microsoft Excel 365

XLSX file open in Microsoft Excel 365

Microsoft introduced the Excel Open XML Spreadsheet (XLSX) format when it released Excel 2007. Since then, XLSX files have become one of the most common file types for saving data in spreadsheets, and as such, are now typically referred to as just Excel spreadsheets.

In Excel 2007, XLSX files replaced .XLS files as the standard file for saving spreadsheets in Excel. Unlike XLS files, which store spreadsheet data in a single binary file, XLSX files are saved in the Open XML format, which stores data as separate files and folders in a compressed Zip package. The archive includes the [Content_Types].xml file, which describes the spreadsheet, and an .XML file for each worksheet within the spreadsheet.

Each cell in an XLSX spreadsheet may be formatted individually. For example, cells may have a number, text, currency, or another format, as well as color, border style, custom font, and size. Cells may also reference other cells to compute a resulting value.

NOTE: To explore the contents of an XLSX file, you can change the .xlsx extension to .zip and then decompress the resulting file with any Zip decompression utility.

Common XLSX Filenames

Workbook1.xlsx — The default filename Microsoft Excel gives to new workbooks beginning with Excel 2007.

How to open an XLSX file

You can open XLSX files with Microsoft Excel in Windows and macOS. Excel is the best option for opening XLSX files because it fully supports the formatting of Excel spreadsheets, which includes images, graphs, and spacing of data fields. Excel is also available for Android and iOS devices.

Many other spreadsheet programs can open and edit XLSX files, but they may not fully support the formatting of the original spreadsheets. Alternative programs include Corel Quattro Pro (Windows), Apple Numbers (Mac), and OpenOffice Calc (multiplatform).

You can also open XLSX files with various web programs. Google Sheets is a great free option that allows you to upload an XLSX file and view, edit, save, and convert the spreadsheet.

How to convert an XLSX file

Several spreadsheet applications, including Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, and LibreOffice Calc, can convert XLSX files to other formats.

For example, you can select File → Save As in the Windows and Mac versions of Microsoft Excel to convert XLSX files to one of the following formats:

  • .XLS — Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)
  • .XLSB — Microsoft Excel Binary Spreadsheet
  • .ODS — OpenDocument Spreadsheet
  • .CSV — Comma-Separated Values
  • .DIF — Data Interchange Format
  • .PDF — Portable Document Format
  • .XPS — XML Paper Specification (Windows only)
  • .RTF — Rich Text Format
  • .TXT — Plain Text
  • .HTM, .HTML — HTML Webpage
  • .XML — Extensible Markup Language
  • .MHT, .MHTML — MIME HTML Archive

Open and view .XLSX files with File Viewer Plus.Free Download

Programs that open XLSX files

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet file format and Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page, please let us know.

XLS vs. XLSX: both are two different file formats of Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet used for storing financial data. The significant difference between the two formats is that while XLS uses the binary format, XLSX uses the latest format based on XML. XLSX files will be reduced in size when converted into XLS files. 

Understanding the definition of XLS vs. XLSX 

What is XLS?

XLS is a former version of the file extension for a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that uses a proprietary binary format. 

What is XLSX?

XLSX is the latest version of the file extension for a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and is known as open XML. 

XLS and XSLX Pros & Cons

Pros of XLS and XLSX Cons of XLS and XLSX
They are easy to program.  These are not databases. 
They have multiple worksheets.  These are used for storing smaller data. 
They display a linking feature.  They cannot modify large pieces of data. 
These are ideal for calculations.   Displaying equations for an extended function can be problematic.  
Table function filters the data conveniently.  These are not useful for running reports. 
They contain formats, graphics, graphs, and charts. They offer too much functionality. 

Discussing the similarities in excel XLS vs. XLSX 

  • Both are different types of Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. 
  • Both are used to store financial data. 
  • Both can contain charts, tables, and graphics. 
  • Majorly are used in business contexts. 

Understanding the differences between different file formats: 

  • Excel XLS vs. XLSX has a basic difference in their existence; XLS is the default version of Microsoft Excel 2003, and XLSX is the file format of Excel since 2007. 
  • XLS is readable by all Microsoft Excel versions, but XLSX is readable only by Microsoft Excel 2007 and onwards.  
  • XLS vs. XLSX file storage system says that XLS information is saved directly to a binary format, whereas the XLSX file is stored in a text file. 
  • XLS can save the file that contains macros. On the contrary, XLSX can not support macros. 
  • There is also a difference between XLS and XLSM. Where both are file formats only, XLSM contains macros that XLSX doesn’t.  
  • The difference between XLS and XLSX and CSV can be understood as XLS and XLSX being Excel file formats featuring tables, graphics, formulas, etc., whereas CSV can save the file in text format only. 
  • XLS files are larger than XLSX files. 
  • XLS is a proprietary binary format, whereas XLSX is based on Microsoft Office Open XML format. 
  • In the files that require the use of complex formulas with big sets of data, XLS works faster than XLSX. 
  • XLSX can hold data in large quantities, but XLS can store fewer data. 
  • XLSX has more rows and columns capacity than XLS. 

What is the difference between XLS and XLSX in terms of the XLS vs. XLSX row limit? 

XLSX file format’s capability to compress the data and reduce the size of a file makes a big difference between XLS and XLSX. The row limit in XLS workbook is 65,536 (2¹⁶), and in XLSX, it increases up to 1,048,576 rows (2²⁰). The column limit for XLS and XLSX is 256 columns (2⁸) and 16,384 columns (2¹⁴), respectively.  

Can you convert XLSX to XLS?

Yes, you can always convert an XLSX file to an XLS file. 

Why is XLSX smaller than XLS?

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a language in computers that automatically compresses the data when you save a file in XLSX. It reduces the size of the file. And that is XLS vs. XLSX format.

How do I convert XLSX to XLS without opening?

To convert XLSX to XLS without opening, you can follow these simple steps: 

  1. Make a copy of the file for a backup. 
  2. Open the file explorer. 
  3. Click on the View tab and tick on the file name extension. 
  4. Go to the folder in which the file is stored.  
  5. Make a right-click on the excel file. 
  6. Select Rename.
  7. Change “.XLSX” to “.XLS”. 
  8. Click enter and open the file. 

What’s the best format to save Excel files?

XLSX is the best format to save Excel files. 

How do I convert XLS to XLSX? 

There are many free online file converters available on the internet. They can convert a file in seconds. Other than this, you can follow the offline process: 

  1. Open the file that you desire to convert. 
  2. Click on the office button placed at the top left corner. 
  3. You will see the file menus here. 
  4. Click on “Save As”. 
  5. Select the Excel workbook and the location for the file. 
  6. Give it a name and click on Save. 
  7. Your file will be saved as ‘.XLSX’ instead of ‘.XSL’. 

Is a CSV file smaller than XLS?

Yes, CSV files are smaller than XLS. 

What is the difference between CSV and XLS?

The difference between XLS and CSV is that an XLS file contains data in a workbook and spreadsheet, while a CSV file can only store the data in text format. It automatically removes all the formats and formulas. 

How do you convert XLS to CSV? 

  1. Open the Excel workbook.
  2. Switch on the File tab and click on Save as.
  3. You can also press f12 to reach the Save as dialog.
  4. In the Save As type box, choose to save the XLS file as CSV (Comma delimited) option. 
  5. Other CSV options are also available. You can check them too. 
  6. Choose a folder to store your file. 
  7. Simply click OK and Yes to the dialog displaying on the screen. 

That’s how you can convert an XLS file to a CSV file. 

Is XLSb faster than XLSX? 

Yes, XLSB is faster than XLSX in creating and loading small data. XLSB is useful for larger spreadsheets. 

Comparison Chart

XLS vs. XLSX: Let’s discover their differences, similarities, pros & cons, and answer some xls and xlsx frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Comparison Video

What is difference between xls and xlsx files of Excel??

The bottom line of XLS or XLSX difference

Both Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet file formats XLS and XLSX are developed to store the financial data and records systematically. XLS and XLSX file formats store the data in spreadsheets containing rows and columns as a grid. One is old, and the other is a new version of the same. 

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