Convert XLS to XLSX online and update old Excel workbooks with formulas and formatting kept. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Drag & Drop your XLS file here
XLS files, up to 20GB
Files stay private.
Automatically deleted after 24 hours.
Link
20GB upload limit.
4.8/5
Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, no account, nothing to install.
01
Upload your XLS files
Drag in .xls workbooks from old archives, accounting exports or website downloads.
02
Convert to XLSX
Start the conversion. LibreOffice opens the workbook and saves it as Office Open XML.
03
Download the XLSX
Download each XLSX, or several together as one ZIP.
XLS
XLS is the Excel 97-2003 workbook format, a binary file limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet.
XLSX
XLSX is Excel's default workbook format since 2007, an XML-based file holding up to 1,048,576 rows per sheet.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
Excel used the binary XLS format from Excel 97 until 2007. It stores sheets, formulas, charts, formatting and VBA macros, but each sheet stops at 65,536 rows and 256 columns. Old reports, accounting exports and many web app downloads still arrive as .xls, and some of those are really CSV or HTML with the wrong name.
TARGET
Excel 2007 introduced XLSX, part of the Office Open XML standard. It holds multiple sheets with formulas, formatting, charts, tables and pivot tables, up to 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns per sheet, and it can't contain macros (that needs .xlsm). Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice all open it.
| Feature | XLS | XLSX |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Microsoft | Microsoft (ISO OOXML) |
| File extension | .xls | .xlsx |
| Editable | Yes | Yes |
| Layout | Grid of cells | Grid of cells |
| Best for | Excel 97-2003 and legacy systems | Spreadsheets everywhere |
| Opens in | Excel, LibreOffice, Google Sheets | Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers |
USE CASES
When an old workbook needs the modern Excel format.
Remove Compatibility Mode
XLS opens in Excel's Compatibility Mode. XLSX gives you every current feature.
Go past 65,536 rows
XLS sheets stop at 65,536 rows. XLSX allows over a million.
Upload to Google Sheets or BI tools
Many tools import XLSX more reliably than XLS.
Clean up an accounting export
Old systems still export XLS. Convert before analysis.
Fix a fake XLS from a website
Web apps often save CSV or HTML with an .xls name. Get a real XLSX.
Reduce file size
XLSX is compressed, so it's usually smaller than XLS.
Archive old budgets and reports
Keep workbooks in the current standard format.
Share with Mac Numbers users
Numbers handles XLSX smoothly.
Use Power Query and modern functions
XLSX supports newer Excel features.
Standardize a shared drive
Convert a folder of old XLS files in one batch.
SUPPORTED FILES
Excel 97-2003 workbooks and XLS-named web exports are supported.
Workbooks with sheets, formulas, formatting and charts.
Older binary XLS formats are read too.
CSV, HTML table and Excel XML files saved with an .xls name are detected and converted.
Opened safely, but the macros are left out, because XLSX can't hold them.
Upload several XLS files and download the XLSX files as a ZIP.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Most changes come from features XLSX handles differently.
01
XLSX can't contain VBA macros. Keep the XLS, or save a copy as .xlsm in Excel to keep them.
02
Charts are rebuilt in the new format and can shift a little in style.
03
A CSV or HTML file named .xls has no formatting to keep, so it becomes a plain table.
04
Check the cell format. Excel stores dates as numbers and shows them according to the format.
05
A cut-off or broken upload can't be read. Download the original again.
06
Password-protected workbooks need the password removed first.
Excel and LibreOffice Calc can re-save an old workbook once installed. dragdropdo converts XLS to XLSX in the browser, on any device.
| What matters | dragdropdo | Desktop Office Suites |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install | ✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser. | ~Yes, a large install. Microsoft 365 also needs a subscription. |
| Works on phones and tablets | ✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad. | ~Mobile apps exist, but re-saving formats is limited. |
| Batch conversion | ✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP. | ~No. One workbook at a time unless you script it. |
| Share finished files | ✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page. | ~You upload and share the files yourself. |
| Pricing | ✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan. | ~Free (LibreOffice) to subscription (Microsoft 365). |
| Keeping VBA macros | ✓No. XLSX can't hold macros, so they are left out. | ~Excel can save as .xlsm to keep them. |
Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.
1.8M+
Files converted
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4.8
Average rating
from our users
~4s
Avg. conversion
per file
0
Files kept
Auto-delete in 24h
WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert XLS to XLSX in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.
Private by default
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.
No install required
Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.
Big files and batches
Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.
Share & download
Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.
MORE XLS TOOLS
XLS is a proprietary spreadsheet file format created by Microsoft Excel, widely used for data representation, analysis, and storage. Featuring advanced calculation capabilities, users can create complex formulas, charts, and pivot tables. XLS files efficiently handle large datasets while maintaining compatibility with various applications, making them essential for business and educational purposes.
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FAQ
Answers to common questions about dragdropdo's XLS to XLSX converter.
