.XLSX File Extension

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Developer	Microsoft
Popularity	Average rating 3.9 / 5. Vote count: 966
Category	Spreadsheet Files
Format	.XLSX
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an XLSX file?

The .XLSX file extension is associated with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. It is a part of the Office Open XML (OOXML) format, introduced by Microsoft for Excel files starting with Excel 2007. This format is used for storing spreadsheets, including data, formulas, charts, and formatting.

More Information.

The .XLSX format was designed to provide a more robust and versatile spreadsheet file format. It is based on XML (Extensible Markup Language) and ZIP compression, making it more efficient in terms of file size and easier to work with programmatically. The format enhances data recovery, security, and file integrity compared to the older .XLS format.

Origin Of This File.

The .XLSX format was introduced by Microsoft in 2007 as part of the Office Open XML standard, which replaced the older .XLS format used by previous versions of Excel. This change aimed to improve compatibility and data management through a more open and standardized file format.

File Structure Technical Specification.

File Structure: .XLSX files are essentially ZIP archives containing a collection of XML files. These XML files describe the various elements of the spreadsheet, such as worksheets, styles, and shared strings.
Technical Specification:
- XML-Based: The file format uses XML for defining data and structure.
- ZIP Compression: The XML files are compressed using ZIP compression, which reduces file size.
- Components: Typical components include the xl directory (containing worksheets, styles, and themes), docProps (document properties), and [Content_Types].xml (file content types).

How to Convert the File?

Windows

Microsoft Excel:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Microsoft Excel.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Choose the desired format from the Save as type dropdown menu (e.g., .XLS, .CSV, .PDF).
4. Click Save.
LibreOffice Calc:
1. Open the .XLSX file in LibreOffice Calc.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Select the desired format from the File type dropdown menu.
4. Click Save.

Linux

LibreOffice Calc:
1. Open the .XLSX file in LibreOffice Calc.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Choose the desired format from the Save as type dropdown menu.
4. Click Save.
OnlyOffice:
1. Open the .XLSX file in OnlyOffice.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Select the desired format from the available options.
4. Click Save.
Google Sheets (Web-based):
1. Upload the .XLSX file to Google Sheets.
2. Open the file and go to File > Download.
3. Choose the desired format (e.g., .CSV, .PDF, .ODS).

macOS

Microsoft Excel:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Microsoft Excel for macOS.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Select the desired format from the File Format dropdown menu.
4. Click Save.
Numbers:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Numbers.
2. Go to File > Export To.
3. Choose the desired format (e.g., .PDF, .CSV).
4. Click Next and then Export.
Google Sheets (Web-based):
1. Upload the .XLSX file to Google Sheets.
2. Open the file and go to File > Download.
3. Choose the desired format.

Android

Microsoft Excel Mobile:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Microsoft Excel Mobile.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Choose the desired format from the available options.
4. Save the file.
Google Sheets:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Google Sheets app.
2. Tap the three vertical dots menu and select Share & export.
3. Choose Save as and select the desired format.
WPS Office:
1. Open the .XLSX file in WPS Office.
2. Go to File > Save as.
3. Choose the desired format and save the file.

iOS

Microsoft Excel:
1. Open the .XLSX file in the Microsoft Excel app.
2. Tap on File > Export.
3. Choose the desired format and save or share the file.
Numbers:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Numbers.
2. Tap on the ... (more) button.
3. Select Export.
4. Choose the desired format and save or share the file.
Google Sheets:
1. Open the .XLSX file in Google Sheets app.
2. Tap the three vertical dots menu and select Share & export.
3. Choose Save as and select the desired format.

Others

Web Browsers:
- Google Sheets: Upload the .XLSX file to Google Sheets via a web browser, then go to File > Download and choose the desired format.
- Office Online: Upload the .XLSX file to Microsoft Office Online, open it, and go to File > Save As to select the desired format.

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantages:
- Compatibility: Widely supported by various spreadsheet applications and platforms.
- File Size: More efficient in terms of file size due to ZIP compression.
- Data Integrity: XML format helps in data recovery and integrity.
- Interoperability: Easier to work with programmatically using XML tools and libraries.
Disadvantages:
- Complexity: The underlying XML structure can be complex for users unfamiliar with XML.
- File Corruption: While XML improves data recovery, corruption can still occur if the ZIP archive is damaged.

How to Open XLSX?

Open In Windows

Microsoft Excel: The primary application for opening .XLSX files.
Alternative Software: LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets (via web browser), and other spreadsheet applications.

Open In Linux

LibreOffice Calc: A popular open-source spreadsheet application that supports .XLSX files.
OnlyOffice: Another option for working with .XLSX files on Linux.
Google Sheets: Access via a web browser for cloud-based spreadsheet management.

Open In MAC

Microsoft Excel: Available for macOS and fully supports .XLSX files.
Numbers: Apple’s spreadsheet application, which can open .XLSX files (though some formatting might be lost).
Google Sheets: Accessible via a web browser.

Open In Android

Microsoft Excel Mobile: The official app for opening and editing .XLSX files on Android devices.
Google Sheets: Available as an app for managing .XLSX files on Android.
WPS Office: Another app that supports .XLSX files.

Open In IOS

Microsoft Excel: Available as an app for iOS devices.
Numbers: Apple’s spreadsheet app, which can open .XLSX files with potential formatting adjustments.
Google Sheets: Available as an app for iOS for managing .XLSX files.

Open in Others

Web Browsers: Many cloud-based services like Google Sheets or Microsoft Office Online allow you to open and edit .XLSX files directly from a browser.