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Convert XLSB to XLSM

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 29, 2026
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Is it possible to convert XLSB to XLSM?
Yes - XLSB converts to XLSM.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

The fastest path is to use our free converter above - upload your XLSB and download the XLSM; your file is deleted after converting. Alternatively, open the file in Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc and choose File > Save As > Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook. VBA macros, formulas, and charts are preserved, but the XLSM output will be larger than the original XLSB.

4 programs
Also to XLSM: XLTM · XLM · XLAM

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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XLSB → XLSM converterFREE
Drop a .XLSB file here
or pick one - we convert it to .XLSM and give you the file to download

Why convert XLSB to XLSM?

People convert XLSB to .XLSM primarily for compatibility - far more third-party tools, scripts, and BI connectors can read the XML-based XLSM than the binary XLSB. Both formats support VBA macros, so the switch keeps all automation intact while opening the workbook to a wider ecosystem. XLSB is faster for very large files, but XLSM is the standard choice when sharing files or feeding data pipelines.

How to convert XLSB to XLSM

Microsoft Excel - Save As RELIABLE

Open the XLSB in Excel, press F12 (Windows) or use File > Save As (Mac), choose Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm) from the format list, and save.

LibreOffice Calc FREE

Open the XLSB, choose File > Save As, select Excel 2007-365 Macro-Enabled (.xlsm), and click Keep Current Format when prompted.

Command line - LibreOffice CLI

Run libreoffice --headless --convert-to xlsm file.xlsb to batch-convert without opening the GUI.

Programs that convert XLSB

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel for Mac
Apache OpenOffice Calc (OpenOffice.org Calc)
LibreOffice Calc

About these formats

.XLSB Microsoft Excel Binary Workbook

An XLSB file is a Microsoft Excel workbook saved in binary format instead of the usual XLSX. It holds the same spreadsheets and can contain macros, but opens and saves faster for large…

Open .XLSB details →
.XLSM Microsoft Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (Open XML)

An XLSM file is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that contains VBA macros - automation code that runs inside the file. Open it in Microsoft Excel (full macro support), LibreOffice Calc, or WPS…

Open .XLSM details →

Quality & what to watch

  • XLSM files are typically larger than XLSB because XML text is less compact than binary storage.
  • VBA macros carry over intact; if the workbook has no macros, saving as .xlsx gives even broader compatibility.
  • If macro fidelity is critical, use Excel for the conversion - LibreOffice preserves the macro code in the file but may not execute all VBA correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Are VBA macros preserved when converting XLSB to XLSM?
Yes. Both XLSB and XLSM store VBA macros in an embedded vbaProject.bin block, so the macro code carries over intact. If you convert via LibreOffice, the macros are kept in the file - opening the result in Excel will run them normally.
Will formulas and pivot tables survive the conversion?
Yes. XLSB and XLSM support the same formulas, pivot tables, charts, and formatting, so converting in Excel or LibreOffice is lossless for standard workbook content.
Why not convert to XLSX instead of XLSM?
If the workbook contains VBA macros, saving as .xlsx will drop them - Excel warns about this and requires you to choose XLSM to keep them. Use .xlsx only if you want a macro-free copy.
Why is the XLSM file larger than the original XLSB?
XLSB stores data as compact binary records, while XLSM uses XML text inside a ZIP archive - the same data takes more space in XML form.