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What is a .xls file?
An .xls file is a legacy Excel workbook (Excel 97–2003). Modern spreadsheets still open them.
This extension has been used by more than one format
5 different formats have claimed .xls over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .xls file
- WindowsExcel
- WindowsLibreOffice Calc
- MacNumbers
- MacExcel
How to convert a .xls file
- Save As .xlsx to bring it up to date.
MIME type
When a .xls file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.ms-excelThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .xls.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel 2.x Worksheet (xls) | 2 | application/vnd.ms-excel | fmt/55 |
| Microsoft Excel 3.0 Worksheet (xls) | 3 | application/vnd.ms-excel | fmt/56 |
| Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet (xls) | 4S | application/vnd.ms-excel | fmt/57 |
| Microsoft Excel 5.0/95 Workbook (xls) | 5/95 | application/vnd.ms-excel | fmt/59 |
| Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook (xls) | 8 & 8X | application/vnd.ms-excel | fmt/61 |