What happens when you convert XLSM to XLSX
- 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.
- 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 XLSX 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 XLSX". The spreadsheet library, about 900 KB, loads the first time and then workbooks convert in a moment.
- Save each XLSX with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert XLSM to XLSX?
XLSM files usually come from workbooks that automate reports, imports and calculations with macros. People convert them to XLSX because XLSX is what Excel, Google Sheets and most business tools expect, and it keeps every sheet and formula.
In short, XLSM is good at what it was made for, and XLSX 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 XLSX opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc.
How to convert XLSM to XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for XLSM to XLSX
There are no settings to choose: the XLSM is read cell by cell and written as an Excel workbook with every sheet and its values and formulas.
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 XLSX: the differences
| XLSM | XLSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Excel macro-enabled workbook | Excel workbook |
| Type | spreadsheet | spreadsheet |
| Created by | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| First released | 2007 | 2007 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting, plus VBA macros | several sheets with values, formulas, formatting and charts |
| 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 | business spreadsheets, reports and anything shared with Excel users |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.macroEnabled.12 | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet |
About XLSM and XLSX 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 XLSX file?
XLSX has been the default Excel format since Office 2007. Inside it is a ZIP archive of XML files, one per sheet, plus styles and shared text.
XLSM to XLSX 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 XLSX from the command line
LibreOffice converts spreadsheets from the command line without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to xlsx input.xlsmThe converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
XLSM to XLSX converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting XLSM to XLSX?
Cell values and formulas are kept exactly. Charts, images and cell styling are not.
Why is the XLSX a different size from the XLSM?
Workbook formats differ in how they compress, so the XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX file?
XLSX opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc. XLSX is common for business spreadsheets, reports and anything shared with Excel users.
Is this XLSM to XLSX 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 XLSX 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.