Microsoft Excel Open XML workbook format for spreadsheets, formulas, charts and tabular data
File type: Microsoft Office file, Spreadsheet and workbook file
XLSX is the default workbook format used by Microsoft Excel for storing spreadsheets, worksheets, formulas, tables, charts, formatting and other data. It is based on the Office Open XML standard and uses a ZIP-compressed package of XML and related files.
XLSX workbooks open in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Apache OpenOffice Calc, Apple Numbers and Google Sheets, although compatibility with complex features may vary.
File type category:
Microsoft Office file
Spreadsheet and workbook file
Date updated: September 24, 2026
The format was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007 and replaced the older binary XLS workbook format as Excel's standard file type. Office Open XML is standardized as ECMA-376 and ISO/IEC 29500.
An XLSX file is a ZIP archive containing multiple related XML parts. These parts store workbook metadata, worksheets, shared strings, styles, formulas, relationships and other resources. This structured design makes the format more accessible to software that processes spreadsheet content without relying on a single proprietary binary file.
The format supports multiple worksheets, cell formulas, named ranges, conditional formatting, data validation, pivot tables, charts, tables, images, comments and external links. Workbooks containing VBA macros normally use the XLSM format instead; macros, embedded objects and some advanced Excel features may not transfer fully between applications.
XLSX is supported by Microsoft Excel for Windows and macOS, Excel for the web, mobile spreadsheet applications and office suites for Linux. The official MIME type is application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet. Compatibility can vary for formulas, fonts, charts, protection settings, external links and application-specific features.
On Windows or macOS, open the file with Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc or Apple Numbers. After installing one of these applications, double-click the file or use the application's Open command.
On Linux, use LibreOffice Calc, Apache OpenOffice Calc or another compatible office suite. You can also upload the file to Google Sheets or open it with Excel for the web, but complex formatting and unsupported features may be altered or omitted.
Open the workbook in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc or Apple Numbers, then choose Save As or Export to convert it to formats such as XLS, ODS, CSV or PDF. CSV conversion generally preserves values from one worksheet but not formulas, formatting, charts or multiple worksheets.
Google Sheets and other online conversion services can also convert spreadsheets, while desktop applications are preferable for confidential data. When converting to or from XLSX, check formulas, formatting, charts, external links and workbook features, since some may not be supported by the destination format or application.
Software applications that can open xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
On-line services
Google Android
Software applications that can edit xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
On-line services
Google Android
Software capable of saving xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
On-line services
Google Android
Software apps that create xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
On-line services
Google Android
Software apps that convert xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software apps that import xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Multiplatform
Software apps that export xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that recover xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that print xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software applications that handle other tasks involving xlsx files:
Microsoft Windows
Multiplatform
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