What happens when you convert XLSM to XLS
- Every sheet is carried over with its cell values and formulas. The converter rebuilds the workbook from its cells, so charts, images, pivot tables and cell styling such as colours and fonts are not kept.
- XLS allows at most 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet. Larger sheets do not fit the format; use XLSX for them.
- The VBA macros in the XLSM are never run and are not carried over, because the converter copies the cells only. Keep the XLSM if you need them.
- The file is read by SheetJS running in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to convert XLSM to XLS online
- Press "Choose XLSM 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 XLS". The spreadsheet library, about 900 KB, loads the first time and then workbooks convert in a moment.
- Save each XLS with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert XLSM to XLS?
XLSM files usually come from workbooks that automate reports, imports and calculations with macros. People convert them to XLS because some older accounting systems, government portals and legacy software still only accept the older XLS format from Excel 97 to 2003.
In short, XLSM is good at what it was made for, and XLS is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. XLSM opens in Excel, which asks before running its macros; Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc open the sheets, while XLS opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc.
How to convert XLSM to XLS on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your XLSM files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each XLS is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the XLSM files from Finder onto the drop zone and the XLS files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose XLSM files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted XLS appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose XLSM files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The XLS is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for XLSM to XLS
There are no settings to choose: the XLSM is read cell by cell and written as a legacy Excel 97 to 2003 workbook.
Check the result in your spreadsheet program before deleting the original: formulas are carried over, but charts, images and styling are not, so a heavily formatted report will look plainer.
XLSM vs XLS: the differences
| XLSM | XLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Excel macro-enabled workbook | Excel 97 to 2003 workbook |
| Type | spreadsheet | spreadsheet |
| Created by | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| First released | 2007 | 1997 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting, plus VBA macros | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting in a binary file |
| In a browser | opens in Excel, which asks before running its macros; Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc open the sheets | opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc |
| Common uses | workbooks that automate reports, imports and calculations with macros | older Excel files and systems that still export the legacy format |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.macroEnabled.12 | application/vnd.ms-excel |
About XLSM and XLS files
What is an XLSM file?
An XLSM is an XLSX that is allowed to carry VBA macros. The sheets inside are exactly like an XLSX, so the data converts normally; only the macros are left behind, because other formats cannot run them.
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.
XLSM to XLS 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 XLSM to XLS from the command line
LibreOffice converts spreadsheets from the command line without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to xls input.xlsmThe converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
XLSM to XLS converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting XLSM to XLS?
Cell values and formulas are kept exactly. Charts, images and cell styling are not.
Why is the XLS a different size from the XLSM?
Workbook formats differ in how they compress, so the XLS may be a little larger or smaller than the XLSM.
Are my XLSM 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 XLSM files to XLS 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 an XLS file?
XLS opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc. XLS is common for older Excel files and systems that still export the legacy format.
Is this XLSM to XLS 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 XLSM to XLS 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.