How to open a .xlsx file
Quick, free ways to open XLSX on any system.
A .xlsx file is a Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads XLSX yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .xlsx file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .xlsx. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Excel or LibreOffice Calc.
- On Mac, use Excel or Numbers.
- On Linux, try LibreOffice Calc or OnlyOffice.
- Still stuck? Convert the .xlsx to CSV, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .xlsx files
Windows
- Excel
- LibreOffice Calc
- Google Sheets
macOS
- Excel
- Numbers
- LibreOffice Calc
Linux
- LibreOffice Calc
- OnlyOffice
- Google Sheets
Web
- Google Sheets
- Office on the web
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Before you open it: Mostly safe, but XLSX can contain macros. Do not enable macros in a spreadsheet you did not expect.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .xlsx file?
Almost always because no installed app understands XLSX. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open an XLSX for free?
Use Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc or the free web version of Excel. All open XLSX with formulas intact.
Should I use XLSX or CSV?
Use XLSX when you need formulas, formatting or multiple sheets. Use CSV for plain, portable data that any program can import.