Excel (97-2003) to Excel Converter
Convert Excel (97-2003) to Excel online for free: nothing to install, no watermark, files encrypted in transit and deleted automatically after conversion.
Drag & drop your XLS file here, or
How to convert Excel (97-2003) to Excel in 3 steps
- 1
Upload your Excel (97-2003) file
Drag and drop or select the Excel (97-2003) file you want to convert.
- 2
Choose Excel as output
The output format is pre-selected for you — just confirm and start the conversion.
- 3
Download your file
Once processing finishes, download your converted Excel file instantly.
Excel (97-2003) vs Excel: what is the difference?
| Excel (97-2003) | Excel | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Excel Binary File Format | Office Open XML Spreadsheet |
| Type | Spreadsheet / data | Spreadsheet / data |
| Compression | None | Built-in (ZIP/deflate) |
| Developed by | Microsoft | Microsoft (ISO/IEC 29500) |
| File extension | .xls | .xlsx |
What is Excel (97-2003)?
XLS is the binary format of Microsoft Excel 97–2003. It is limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet and has been replaced by XLSX, though some older systems and accounting tools still export it.
What is Excel?
XLSX is the default Microsoft Excel format since Excel 2007. It stores worksheets, formulas, charts and formatting in an open XML-based package and also opens in Google Sheets and Apple Numbers.
Tips for converting Excel (97-2003) to Excel
- Fonts that are not installed on our servers are replaced with similar ones, so check the layout of the converted file.
- Scanned documents are images: converting a scanned Excel (97-2003) will not make its text editable (that requires OCR).
- Complex layouts, macros and embedded objects may not survive every conversion; review the Excel before sharing it.
- Password-protected files cannot be converted — remove the password first.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert Excel (97-2003) to Excel online?
- Upload your Excel (97-2003) file above, select Excel as the output format, and click Convert. ConvertFastHub processes the file in the cloud and gives you a download link — no software installation required.
- Is it free to convert Excel (97-2003) to Excel?
- Yes. Free accounts get 10 conversions every 24 hours with files up to 50MB. For unlimited conversions, larger files up to 1.5GB, and priority processing, upgrade to ConvertFastHub Pro.
- Is my file safe when I convert it?
- Files travel over an encrypted connection, are scanned automatically for malware (files up to 200 MB), are processed in an isolated worker and are deleted automatically: after 1 hour without an account, 24 hours with a free account, or 7 days with Pro.
- Can I convert Excel (97-2003) to Excel on my phone?
- Yes. The converter runs in the browser and the work happens on our servers, so it works the same on Android, iPhone, tablets and computers — there is no app to install.
- Do I need an account?
- No. You can convert without signing up; results are then kept for 1 hour. A free account keeps them for 24 hours and shows your conversion history.