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XLSM XLS
File conversion

Convert XLSM to XLS

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 4, 2026
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Is it possible to convert XLSM to XLS?
Yes - XLSM converts to XLS.

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

Upload your .xlsm to our free converter above for the fastest result. The most important caveat: XLS caps sheets at 65,536 rows, so any data beyond that limit is silently cut off.

8 programs
Also to XLS: WDB · ACCDR · XLR

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert XLSM to XLS?

People downgrade to .XLS almost exclusively for legacy compatibility - old software such as Excel 2000 or 2003, or business systems locked to the older binary format. VBA macros survive the trip because XLS also supports them, but Excel 2007+ features including oversized row counts and newer chart types may be lost. If everyone involved uses Excel 2007 or later, staying with .xlsm is the safer choice.

How to convert XLSM to XLS

Microsoft Excel - Save As BUILT-IN

Open the file in Excel, go to File > Save As, choose Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls) from the format dropdown, then review the compatibility report before confirming.

LibreOffice Calc FREE

Open the .xlsm in LibreOffice Calc, choose File > Save As, and select Microsoft Excel 97-2003 (.xls) as the format.

Command line - LibreOffice CLI

Run libreoffice --headless --convert-to xls yourfile.xlsm to convert without opening a GUI.

Programs that convert XLSM

Microsoft Excel
Corel Quattro Pro
PlanMaker
Ability Spreadsheet
Microsoft Excel for Mac
Excel Mobile
LibreOffice Calc
OpenOffice.org Calc

About these formats

.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 →
.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 →

Quality & what to watch

  • XLS sheets are capped at 65,536 rows and 256 columns - data beyond those limits is silently truncated.
  • VBA macros carry over to XLS, but code relying on Excel functions introduced after 2003 may fail in genuinely old Excel versions.
  • XLS binary files are typically larger than the ZIP-compressed .xlsm source.

Frequently asked questions

Will my macros still work after converting to XLS?
Usually yes - XLS supports VBA, so the macro project transfers. Test in the target Excel version, since code using post-2003 features may behave differently.
Can I just rename `.xlsm` to `.xls`?
No - XLSM is a ZIP-based Open XML package and XLS is a binary format; renaming produces a file that cannot be opened.
What is the row limit in XLS versus XLSM?
XLSM supports 1,048,576 rows per sheet; XLS is capped at 65,536 rows. Any data past that limit is cut off when saving as XLS.
Is XLS safe to share?
XLS can carry VBA macros, so recipients see the same macro-enable prompt as with .xlsm. For macro-free sharing, use .xlsx or .csv instead.