What happens when you convert XLS to CSV
- CSV holds a single table of plain text, so the first sheet of the XLS is saved. Formulas become their last calculated values, and other sheets, formatting and charts are left out.
- The file is read by SheetJS running in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to convert XLS to CSV online
- Press "Choose XLS files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to CSV". The spreadsheet library, about 900 KB, loads the first time and then workbooks convert in a moment.
- Save each CSV with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert XLS to CSV?
XLS files usually come from older Excel files and systems that still export the legacy format. People convert them to CSV because CSV imports into every database, CRM, email tool and spreadsheet without fuss.
In short, XLS is good at what it was made for, and CSV is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. XLS opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc, while CSV opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor.
How to convert XLS to CSV on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your XLS files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each CSV is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the XLS files from Finder onto the drop zone and the CSV files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose XLS files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted CSV appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose XLS files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The CSV is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for XLS to CSV
There are no settings to choose: the XLS is read cell by cell and written as comma-separated values in UTF-8, one line per row.
If your workbook has several sheets, move the one you need to the first position before converting, or convert to XLSX instead to keep them all. CSV files are written in UTF-8, which Excel, Google Sheets and databases all read correctly.
XLS vs CSV: the differences
| XLS | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Excel 97 to 2003 workbook | Comma-separated values |
| Type | spreadsheet | spreadsheet |
| Created by | Microsoft | no single author; standardised in RFC 4180 |
| First released | 1997 | 1972 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting in a binary file | one table of plain text values, one row per line |
| In a browser | opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc | opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor |
| Common uses | older Excel files and systems that still export the legacy format | data exports, imports into databases and exchanging tables between programs |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel | text/csv |
About XLS and CSV files
What is an XLS file?
XLS is the binary Excel format used before 2007. It is limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet, far fewer than XLSX allows.
What is a CSV file?
A CSV file holds a single table as plain text, with commas between values. It has no formatting, formulas or multiple sheets, which is exactly why every program can read it.
XLS to CSV not working? Common problems
- The file will not open. Password-protected workbooks are encrypted, so they cannot be read without the password; remove the password in Excel first.
- Dates look like numbers. Spreadsheets store dates as numbers underneath; apply a date format to the column in your spreadsheet program.
- Special characters look wrong in Excel. The CSV is UTF-8; in older Excel, use Data, From Text/CSV and choose UTF-8 instead of double-clicking the file.
Convert XLS to CSV from the command line
LibreOffice converts spreadsheets from the command line without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to csv input.xlsThe converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
XLS to CSV converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting XLS to CSV?
The values are exact. What CSV cannot keep is structure: extra sheets, formulas and formatting.
Why is the CSV a different size from the XLS?
CSV is plain text with nothing but values, so it is usually far smaller than a workbook.
Are my XLS files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using the open-source SheetJS library, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several XLS files to CSV at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a CSV file?
CSV opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor. CSV is common for data exports, imports into databases and exchanging tables between programs.
Is this XLS to CSV converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert XLS to CSV on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.