Convert XLSX to CSV Online
Free, easy-to-use Excel XLSX to CSV converter. Transform your spreadsheets to CSV format for universal compatibility.
XLSX to CSV Converter
Convert your XLSX files to CSV format quickly and easily. Upload your file and download the result.
Max file size: 50MB
Why Convert XLSX to CSV?
Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (XLSX files) are powerful, but sometimes you need your data in a simpler, more universally compatible format. CSV (Comma Separated Values) is a plain text format that's easily readable by almost any spreadsheet program, database, or data analysis tool. Converting XLSX to CSV is ideal for data export, sharing with systems that don't support XLSX, or preparing data for scripting.
Benefits of Converting XLSX to CSV
- Universal compatibility - CSV files can be opened by virtually any spreadsheet program, database, or text editor.
- Smaller file size - CSV files are significantly smaller than their XLSX counterparts.
- Easier data integration - CSV is the preferred format for importing data into many systems and databases.
- Simple structure - CSV files have a straightforward structure that's easy to parse programmatically.
- No macros or formulas - CSV stores only the values, making it safer for sharing data without potential macro viruses.
How to Convert XLSX to CSV Using Our Tool
- Upload your XLSX file using the upload button or drag and drop.
- Our tool automatically selects CSV as the output format.
- Solve the simple captcha to prove you're human.
- Click "Convert XLSX to CSV" to begin the process.
- Download your new CSV file once the conversion is complete.
About XLSX and CSV Format Differences
| Feature | XLSX | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| File Structure | Complex XML-based format | Simple text with delimiters |
| Multiple Sheets | Yes | No (one sheet per file) |
| Formatting | Rich formatting options | None (plain text only) |
| Formulas | Yes | No (values only) |
When converting XLSX to CSV, only the data from the *first* worksheet in your Excel file is extracted. Formatting like colors, fonts, and cell widths is lost, as CSV is a plain text format. Formulas are also converted to their resulting values. The goal is to get the raw data into a simple, structured text file.
Our converter uses commas (,) as the delimiter and double quotes (") to enclose fields that contain commas or quotes themselves, following standard CSV practices. We use UTF-8 encoding to ensure broad compatibility with special characters and different languages.
Important Note About CSV Limitations
When converting from XLSX to CSV, please be aware that CSV format has some limitations:
- Only the values from cells are preserved, not formulas
- All formatting (colors, fonts, etc.) is lost
- Only one sheet is converted (typically the first or active sheet)
- If your data contains the delimiter character (usually a comma), it may affect the structure
Other Spreadsheet Conversion Options
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to formulas when converting XLSX to CSV?
When converting from XLSX to CSV, all formulas are calculated and only their resulting values are stored in the CSV file. This means that if your XLSX file contains formulas like SUM or VLOOKUP, the CSV will only contain the calculated results of those formulas, not the formulas themselves. If you need to preserve formulas, you should keep a copy of the original XLSX file.
How are multiple sheets handled in the conversion?
No, the conversion process extracts data only from the first worksheet (the first tab) in your XLSX file. If you need to convert data from other worksheets, you'll need to either move the desired sheet to the first position in Excel before uploading or upload separate files for each sheet.
How does CSV handle special characters and different languages?
CSV files can sometimes have issues with special characters and non-English languages because they rely on specific character encodings. Our converter uses UTF-8 encoding, which supports most languages and special characters. However, when opening the resulting CSV file, make sure your application also recognizes it as UTF-8. Some programs like older versions of Excel might not automatically detect UTF-8 encoding and may require you to specify the encoding when importing the CSV file.