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.
What opens 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.
Windows
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- PSPP
- Python (pyreadstat)
macOS
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- PSPP
- R (haven)
Linux
- PSPP
- Python (pyreadstat)
- R (haven)
Open a .sav file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .sav. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with IBM SPSS Statistics or PSPP.
- On Mac, use IBM SPSS Statistics or PSPP.
- On Linux, try PSPP or Python (pyreadstat).
- Still stuck? Convert the .sav to csv, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .sav file?
Almost always because no installed app understands SAV. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .sav at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
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.
What is the .sav file signature (magic bytes)?
A .sav file starts with the hex bytes 24 46 4C 32, which read as $FL2 in ASCII. Programs identify SAV by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for SAV. For a full breakdown, see the SPSS data file file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 46 4C 32 | 0 | $FL2 | '$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
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