Microsoft Excel 5 for Mac workbook file
File type: Spreadsheet and workbook file
A .xlw5 file is a workbook created by Microsoft Excel 5 for Mac.
It contains one or more spreadsheets and the workbook data used by Excel.
File type category:
Spreadsheet and workbook file
Date updated: September 27, 2026
Microsoft Excel, developed by Microsoft, uses workbooks to store spreadsheet data. The XLW5 file extension identifies a workbook saved by Excel 5 for Mac.
An XLW5 workbook can contain worksheets, formulas, formatting, charts and other spreadsheet content. It is an older binary Excel workbook format rather than a modern Office Open XML workbook.
The format was used by the Mac version of Excel and is now considered legacy. Excel commonly uses xls for older workbooks and, since Microsoft Office 2007, xlsx for its newer default workbook format.
Open an .xlw5 file with Microsoft Excel 5 for Mac or with a later compatible release of Microsoft Excel.
If a current version of Excel does not recognize the file, use an older compatible Excel installation to open it and save it in a newer workbook format.
Open the workbook in a compatible version of Microsoft Excel and use Save As or Export to create an .xls or .xlsx file. The newer format is generally the better choice for current versions of Excel.
Check the converted workbook for changes to formatting, formulas or charts, because some features from this legacy format may not convert exactly.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving xlw5 files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
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