What is a .sav file?
SPSS Data File · Data · IBM SPSS · 1968
A .sav file is an SPSS data file: a dataset of cases and variables used in statistics and social science, along with labels and metadata describing each variable. It is the native format of IBM SPSS Statistics.
What is a .sav file used for?
SPSS system files begin with the marker $FL2 and store not just the numbers but rich metadata: variable and value labels, measurement levels and missing-value rules. That metadata is why researchers prefer .sav over plain CSV.
Beyond SPSS, free tools read it: PSPP is an open-source clone, and Python (pyreadstat) and R (haven) can load .sav directly.
How to open a .sav file
The .sav format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .sav file.
Windows
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- PSPP
- Python (pyreadstat)
macOS
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- PSPP
- R (haven)
Linux
- PSPP
- Python (pyreadstat)
- R (haven)
How to convert a .sav file
You can convert a .sav file to csv, xlsx, dta using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.sav file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .sav file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for SAV. For a full breakdown, see the SAV file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 24 46 4C 32 | 0 | '$FL2' (SPSS system file) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .sav file?
A .sav file is an SPSS data file: a dataset of cases and variables used in statistics and social science, along with labels and metadata describing each variable. It is the native format of IBM SPSS Statistics.
How do I open a .sav file without SPSS?
Use PSPP, a free open-source SPSS alternative, or read it in Python with pyreadstat or in R with the haven package.
What is the difference between .sav and .csv?
A .sav file keeps SPSS metadata (variable and value labels, measurement levels, missing-value codes) that a plain CSV loses. CSV is just the raw values.
Can I convert a .sav file to Excel?
Yes. Open it in SPSS or PSPP and export to .xlsx or .csv, or convert it with pyreadstat in Python.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: