Senior Technology Writer

Someone sent you a e-mail XLS file and you don't know how to open it? Maybe you've found an XLS file on your computer and are wondering what it is? Windows may tell you that you cannot open it, or in the worst case, you may encounter a corresponding error message associated with the XLS file.

Before you can open an XLS file, you need to find out what kind of file the XLS file extension is.

Tip: Incorrect XLS file association errors can be a symptom of other underlying issues within your Windows operating system. These invalid entries can also produce associated symptoms such as slow Windows startups, computer freezes, and other PC performance issues. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you scan your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other issues related to a fragmented registry.

Answer:

XLS files are Spreadsheet Files, which is primarily associated with Works Spreadsheet (Microsoft Corporation).

XLS files are also associated with Excel Worksheet (Microsoft Corporation) and FileViewPro.

Additional file types may also use the XLS file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats that use the XLS file extension, please contact us so we can update our information accordingly.

How to open your XLS file:

The fastest and easy way Opening your XLS file means double-clicking on it. IN in this case Windows system she will choose the necessary program to open your XLS file.

In case your XLS file does not open, it is very likely that the necessary software is not installed on your PC. application program to view or edit files with XLS extensions.

If your PC opens an XLS file but in the wrong program, you will need to change the file association settings in your Windows registry. In other words, Windows associates XLS file extensions with the wrong program.

Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | | | |

XLS Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME):

• mime application/vnd.ms-excel

XLS File Analysis Tool™

Not sure what type your XLS file is? Do you want to get precise information about a file, its creator and how it can be opened?

Now you can instantly get all necessary information about the XLS file!

Revolutionary XLS File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes and reports detailed information about the XLS file. Our patent-pending algorithm quickly analyzes the file and provides detailed information within seconds in a clear, easy-to-read format.†

In just a few seconds, you'll know exactly what type of XLS file you have, the application associated with the file, the name of the user who created the file, the file's security status, and other useful information.

To get started free analysis file, simply drag and drop your XLS file inside the dotted line below or click "Browse My Computer" and select the file. The XLS file analysis report will be shown below, right in the browser window.

Drag the XLS file here to start analysis

View my computer »

Please also check my file for viruses

Your file is being analyzed... please wait.

How else can you open a file in xls format? If, for example, your PC does not have the main program for this - Excel. Excel is the main program that allows you to open, view and edit a file, but it often happens that this program does not exist, or it cannot be installed on a PC or smartphone.

Files like .xls- created by Microsoft. Information inside the document is contained in cells, thereby creating a full-fledged table. .xlsx – updated version the same cells, which allows you to create a document that is much smaller in size, but with a larger set of functions and settings.

Each “platform” has its own program that works with the .xls format and this is not Excel.

1. How to open an .xls file on Windows

Without the MS Office application pack, it is quite possible to open files of this xls type using the free utility " Open Office».

Open Office utility
Launch the program and select the required document type, the document you want to create:

LibreOffice utility
Another utility that can work with tables like .xls.. In addition standard features: work with text, tables and presentations, built into the program vector editor graphics, DBMS and even forms. LifeOffice is also free.

If you have Mac OS, then you can download MS Office with compatibility for MAC OS, but this is not best opportunity open a file of this format on Apple OS.

Getting started with Apple Numbers
In its own way, the most good utility, a spreadsheet tool that can also be used on Mac. The application will allow you to open files without losing data and quality. The graphs will remain in their place, as will the cells.

Utility Planamesa NeoOffice
Next set useful programs for full-fledged work with both text and xls format tables.

The app even has the ability to edit and save files. The main toolbar is very similar to standard panel Microsoft Office.

2. Online services for opening .xls formats

If you are not a supporter of “extra” programs on your PC, then it is better for you to use an Internet service that could work with files “ office" Such sites exist, and there are quite a few of them. Most of them are free.

Yandex Disk
A standard cloud-type storage for your data, which can store files and, if possible, view them without downloading. But editing a specific document through Yandex Disk is not available.

Google Docs
An analogue of Yandex disk, which performs all the same functions. But this source It has special extensions, which allow you to work with documents of this type directly in the browser. For full operation, you need the Internet, or an extension that would allow Google Drive storage and its functions to work offline.

Text files are sent automatically to the " Google Docs" or " Google Docs" By going to this section it is very easy to view and even edit files with the extension .xls and even .docx. To edit presentations – “ Google Slides", to edit and view tables – Google Sheets.

To access Google Drive you need to have your own account in Google - this service is completely connected to the mail gmail service. Initially, the user is provided with 7 gigabytes free space For personal files.

3. Open.xls on Android

You can also install applications that work with this format on various devices: tablets or smartphones.

Multiplatform application Kingsoft WPS Office– created specifically for working with text and table type files.

The Android version of the program is quite simple, as is its interface. The program has a lot of functions, and that is why it was at the top of the Google Market for some time.

4. Open .xls on iOS

There is an even larger list of commands for iPhones, iPads, etc. Until recently, this program was the official version for products from Apple Microsoft Excel , but now it is being replaced by other applications, for example MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro.

MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro In addition to viewing all the user’s files and documents, it also included the ability to use the explorer built into it, which will simplify the search for some files on the phone, as well as upload new ones to it.

5. Open.xls to Windows Phone

Especially for Windows Phone platform pack software for working with Microsoft formats is initially installed.
But many people complain about a lot of shortcomings in the operation of this software: it is quite difficult to find files, and large documents sometimes lose some information. This is why you should use additional applications from the official store.

Excel Mobile– an application that will provide access to the required tables at any time. The program interface is exactly the same as in standard program MS Excel.

In business life, we may encounter a situation when we need to quickly view an Excel file online, and installed package“Office” is simply not available on the nearest computer. Then we will need specialized online resource s for opening xls and xlsx files, which can quickly and effectively help in solving our problem. In this material I will tell you how to open xls and xlsx online, I will describe the corresponding resources and their functionality.

The following convenient online “viewers” ​​(from English viewer) allow you to perform all basic set necessary operations with Excel files in xls and xlsx formats, including viewing, editing and even transformation into other formats. Their most convenient feature is the ability to open Excel files on almost any computer with Internet access. Below I will describe some of them.

Convenient tool from Google, allowing you to easily open excel xls and xlsx files on your PC.

Zoho Excel Viewer – how to open xlsx and xls

This online resource is a viewer for viewing excel files with advanced functionality that allows you not only to view, but also to edit, save, share, and even convert files to required by the user format. You can either open files from your computer or use a link to the desired file on the network.

Edit Grid Viewer – convenient viewing of Excel files

Another service for viewing Excel documents online.

Go to the resource, click on “Open File” at the top and upload your file to the site via the “Browse” button, where you can view its contents.

This Edit Grid Viewer service has a number of interesting features, for example, different people can work on the same Excel document. One of the limitations of this service it is possible to work only with xls extension files, more “advanced” xlsx extension not supported.

Docspal

Another popular resource is Docspal to view xls files online. It does not support document editing or formatting, but can be very useful for quick view required document in excel format. Document conversion is also supported.

On given time There are no problems in the operation of the resource, it works extremely stably.

ThinkFree Online

Practical English language resource to view files in excel format.

1. To work with the service you need to go to the website.
2. Click on the picture with a newspaper and a magnifying glass (Viewer), click on the “Browse” button at the top and click on the file you need from your hard drive.
3. After that, click on the “View document” button on the right and wait for the processing process to complete.

The procedure itself only takes a few seconds; xlsx and xls files open easily, conveniently and quickly in the ThinkFree Online editor.

Browser add-on

You can also note the existing additions to popular browsers, allowing you to easily view xlsx documents online.

• Among similar products I would like to mention Google Docs Viewer for Mozilla (you can download it here).
• And Excel Viewer for Chrome (you can download it here).

They allow you to conveniently and quickly view Excel documents. If desired, users can look for analogues of these programs for popular well-known browsers.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a sufficient number of services for viewing documents in Excel format. If necessary, the user can go to one of the above resources, download the xlsx (xls) file he needs and familiarize himself with the contents of the document. In addition to these services, there are also special programs, allowing you to view documents in Excel format without the help of MS Office, but I’ll talk about them another time.

In contact with

Users who do not have much experience with office programs often have a question about how to open an XLS file. Typically, this situation occurs when someone sends a file by mail or after downloading a file from the Internet. And here you have a file in XLS format, but you don’t know how to open it, or what could even be inside such a file.

If you are faced with similar difficulties, then this article is just for you. Now you will learn how to open an XLS file, what programs create such files and what data they are used to store.

XLS files are Microsoft Excel files. In files of this format Excel program saves spreadsheets. Typically, such files store tables with data, calculations and various calculations. Thanks to the flexible system of formulas, you can store entire programs in XLS files that, using given algorithms, calculate the values ​​you need depending on the source data.

Since XLS files are the native format of Microsoft Excel, it is best to open XLS with using Microsoft Excel. In this case, you can be sure that everything opened correctly and all data is displayed accurately, as it was intended by the person who created this table.

But, Microsoft program Excel is part of the paid office Microsoft package Office, which costs a lot of money. So if you do not have the opportunity to purchase Microsoft Office, you will have to use other programs to open XLS files. Below we will look at a number of the most popular free programs with which you can open an XLS file.

Microsoft Office Excel Viewer free utility from Microsoft. This utility allows you to open XLS files and view them in reading mode. In this mode you have very limited quantity opportunities. All you can do is print the document, use the search or. However, you will not be able to edit the open file.

OpenOffice.org is a popular free office suite. This office suite includes programs for working with text documents, spreadsheets, databases and presentations. The spreadsheet program is called Calc and can be used to open XLS files.

There are also other free office suites built on top of OpenOffice.org. These office suites are developed by different development teams and may have some differences. These are: LibreOffice, OxygenOffice Professional, Portable OpenOffice.org, etc.

Universal Viewer Free is a free program for viewing files in popular formats. Main feature This program is that it allows you to open and view files in all popular formats. According to the developers, the Universal Viewer program supports 40 picture formats, 170 music and video formats, as well as all office formats, including XLS.

Paid office packages for opening XLS files

In addition to Microsoft Office, there are other paid office suites. They are in many ways similar to Microsoft Office, and are not worth considering in detail. All of them include a number of programs for working with text documents, spreadsheets, databases and presentations. If you are interested in how to open an XLS file, then of these office packages you only need a spreadsheet program.

Paid office suites include programs such as Corel WordPerfect Office, SoftMaker Office, Ashampoo Office, Kingsoft Office Suite Professional.

How to open a document in xls format if you do not have the MS Office software package installed on your computer?

As a rule, the main and most popular app for viewing and editing. xls files– this is Excel, however, not all PC users have portable devices It is possible to install this table processor.

.xls is a data file format developed by Microsoft. Information in a document of this format is stored in special address cells, thus creating a complex table. Format .xlsx- that's more new modification extension, which allows you to create a smaller document, but with a wider range of functions.

Let's take a closer look alternative programs, which work with .xls, for all popular operating systems today.

If you have Windows

In addition to the most popular package office applications MS Office, many other good programs for working with documents have been developed for Windows OS. For example, the Open Office utility is free for your PC and can work with text files, tables and presentations.

Open Office

To get started, launch the program and home page select the type of document you want to create:

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is another good open source spreadsheet program. In addition to utilities for working with text, presentations and tables, LibreOffice has a built-in editor vector graphics, formula editor and DBMS (comprehensive database management system). The program is distributed exclusively free of charge.

If you have Mac OS

Recently, on Mac OS you can download official version MS Office package, however, this is not the most popular program among Apple OS users.

Apple Numbers

Apple Numbers is perhaps the best spreadsheet utility available for the Mac. The application allows you to open files very quickly, without losing quality or data. Using Apple Numbers, you will not encounter the problem of graphs and table cells that have moved out of place.

Planamesa NeoOffice

Planamesa NeoOffice – set software for working with text, presentations and tables. Supports all common formats office documents, in particular xls.

With this application you can open, edit, save files. The main window and toolbar of the program are very reminiscent of MS Office.

Also for Mac OS you can download the previously described Open Office or LibreOffice.

Online services

If you do not want to install bulky programs on your computer, you should use Internet services that can work with office files. All such sites are usually free and do not restrict users in their use.

Yandex Disk

Yandex disk is a comprehensive cloud storage, which allows you not only to store files, but also to view them. Unfortunately, you will not be able to edit the document, but you can quickly view its contents.

To open .xls, first upload the file you need to the service (to do this you need to have a registered account and enough space on your computer). cloud drive). Then wait for the file to finish downloading, click on it and select “View”. The contents of the file will open in new page browser.

Google Docs

The next service that can quickly open xls without losing data is Google Docs.

Website Google Drive (drive.google.com) – cloud storage for any type of files. The service has attached applications for working with documents, which open and work directly in the browser.

To work, you need an Internet connection, or additional settings utilities that allow you to work offline (including this task is performed by the Chrome browser extension).

The service is popularly called GoogleDox; it fully works with all types of ordinary office documents and contains many copies of templates, or document templates - for creating resumes, to-do sheets, annual reports, budgeting, etc. (Fig. 6).

Application for text documents called Google Docs, it is convenient for opening and editing any text files, including MS Word files with .doc, .docx resolution; for presentations - Google Slides; for tables – Google Sheets; There are other applications for drawing and working with databases.

To access Google Drive you must have an account Google entry– the service works in conjunction with postal service gmail.com. At the start, each user receives 7 GB of free storage space and the ability to edit any documents online, including in collaboration with other users.

If you have Android

Kingsoft WPS Office

Kingsoft WPS Office is a multi-platform application designed to organize work with text files and user tables.

It should be noted that the version for Android OS was a success for the developers - a simple interface, minimal consumption of device resources and a wide range of functions brought Kingsoft WPS Office to the TOP best apps official Google store Play.

Fig. 10 – appearance Kingsoft WPS Office programs in Android OS

Also on Android you can use the above online services for free.

If you have iOS

There are quite a few good ones for iOS office programs. Until recently, the most popular was the official Microsoft Excel, but Lately More and more users are moving to more versatile online services and client applications from Google.

If all this does not suit you for some reason, there is another program that is worth paying attention to - MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro.

MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro

In addition to viewing documents, users also have the opportunity to use a convenient built-in explorer to search for files in the phone's memory and download additional free dictionaries, tools and e-books.

If you have Windows Phone

On all devices under Windows control Phone comes pre-installed with Microsoft's document management software package.

However, a decent number of users note many shortcomings in the work of standard software: files are difficult to find in Explorer, large documents open with loss of formatting, etc.

IN official Store there are other applications good programs, which you can use as an analogue to the standard one for working with xls.

Excel Mobile

Excel Mobile - this utility only supports spreadsheets. Thanks to this, the program has more functions. The interface is identical to standard Excel for Windows.

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