How to convert XLSM to XLS
- Add your .XLSM file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .XLS in a few seconds.
- Download your new .XLS file.
What to expect
- 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
.xlsmsource.
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.Programs that convert XLSM: Microsoft Excel · Corel Quattro Pro · PlanMaker · Ability Spreadsheet · Microsoft Excel for Mac · Excel Mobile · LibreOffice Calc · OpenOffice.org Calc
