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XL XLS
File conversion

Convert XL to XLS

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Is it possible to convert XL to XLS?
Yes - XL converts to XLS.

Frequently just a rename: an .xl is legacy Excel binary, so copying it to .xls usually lets Excel open it directly; re-save to be sure.

2 programs
Also to XLS: WDB · ACCDR · XLR

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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How to convert XL to XLS

Converting a .XL file to .XLS lets you open the content in software that prefers the .XLS format, though some details may change compared with the original. The programs listed below open .XL files and can save or export them to .XLS (or a closely related format). One of them is Microsoft Excel: Microsoft Excel is the most popular spreadsheet, which provides its users a very wide range of useful tools for numerical data processing. Program enables to….

A full step-by-step guide for this conversion is on the way; the information above is drawn straight from our database.

Programs that convert XL

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel for Mac

About these formats

.XL Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (legacy)

An XL file is an early Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that predates today's .xls and .xlsx formats. Open it in Microsoft Excel or the free LibreOffice Calc - if the app refuses the .xl…

Open .XL details →
.XLS Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook (Binary Interchange File Format, BIFF8)

An XLS file is an old-format Microsoft Excel spreadsheet from the Excel 97-2003 era, saved as a binary file rather than the ZIP-based XLSX used since 2007. You can open it free without…

Open .XLS details →