Convert XLS to TSV
Convert XLS files to TSV locally, completely free and with maximum privacy.
Drag and drop your files here
or click to browse local files (large files supported, limited only by browser RAM)
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How to convert XLS to TSV
- Drop your .xls files above, or click Upload Files. You can add many files at once.
- TSV is already selected as the output. Open the settings (gear icon) to fine-tune the result.
- Click Convert All. SheetJS runs inside your browser through WebAssembly; nothing is uploaded.
- Download your .tsv files as soon as each one finishes.
What to know about XLS to TSV conversion
- TSV holds a single table: convert the active sheet only, or all sheets at once (as a ZIP with one file per sheet).
- Cell values are exported as they were last calculated; formulas, formatting and charts are not part of the output.
- The TSV file includes a UTF-8 byte order mark so Excel opens accented characters correctly.
- TSV is best for data that contains commas, and pasting into spreadsheets, and opens in any spreadsheet or text editor.
XLS vs TSV
| Feature | XLS (Excel 97-2003 Workbook) | TSV (Tab-Separated Values) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple sheets | Yes | No |
| Formulas and formatting | Yes | No |
| Best for | compatibility with Excel 97–2003 and legacy systems | data that contains commas, and pasting into spreadsheets |
| Opens in | Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets | any spreadsheet or text editor |
XLS (Excel 97-2003 Workbook): The legacy binary Microsoft Excel format (BIFF8), still common in older systems.
TSV (Tab-Separated Values): A plain-text tabular format where values are separated by tab characters.
Conversion options
- Active sheet only or all sheets
- Custom output file name
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to convert XLS to TSV here?
Yes. Your files are processed entirely on your own device by WebAssembly code running in the browser. They are never uploaded, so nobody else can see them, and the converter keeps working even if your connection drops after the page loads.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server-side limit. The only limit is the memory available to your browser, typically 1.5–4 GB on desktop computers.
Can I convert several XLS files at once?
Yes. Add as many files as you like; they are converted in parallel according to your device's CPU cores, and you can apply the same settings to all of them.
Related conversions
Need the opposite? Convert TSV to XLS.
Convert XLS to other formats
Convert other formats to TSV
See every XLS converter and TSV converter, or browse the full converter directory.