Convert XLS to TSV Online Free

Drag & drop your .xls file here, or click to browse

Converts to TSV in your browser · first daily conversion free · no signup

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Extract data from legacy Excel .xls files into tab-separated format. Perfect for command-line processing, database imports, and pasting into modern spreadsheets.

By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026

Quick Answer

ChangeThisFile converts your legacy Excel spreadsheet to tab-separated TSV format directly in your browser using the SheetJS library. Cell data is extracted cleanly with tab delimiters for easy processing. Your file stays on your device, ensuring complete privacy. Free, instant, no signup required.

First daily conversion free No signup required Files stay on your device Instant conversion Updated May 2026

XLS vs TSV: Format Comparison

Key differences between the two formats

Feature	XLS (Excel Legacy)	TSV
File format	Binary BIFF format (pre-2007)	Plain text with tab delimiters
Max rows	65,536 rows	No row limit
Multiple sheets	Supported	Single table only
Formulas	Supported	Not supported (values only)
Formatting	Fonts, colors, borders	None (plain text)
Command-line tools	Requires special parsers	Native with awk, cut, sort, grep
Spreadsheet paste	Requires Excel or compatible app	Paste directly into any spreadsheet

When to Convert

Common scenarios where this conversion is useful

Processing legacy Excel data with Unix tools

Convert old .xls files to TSV for processing with awk, cut, sort, and grep. TSV is the native format for Unix text processing tools.

Database imports from archived spreadsheets

Many databases support TSV for COPY or LOAD DATA commands. Convert legacy XLS files to TSV for bulk database loading.

Recovering data from old Excel files

Open legacy .xls files without installing older Excel versions. Convert to TSV for a universal, text-based data format.

Pasting legacy data into modern spreadsheets

Convert XLS to TSV and paste directly into Google Sheets or modern Excel. Tab-separated data aligns perfectly in spreadsheet columns.

Who Uses This Conversion

Tailored guidance for different workflows

Developers

Convert XLS config files to TSV for compatibility with different tools or frameworks
Transform XLS API responses to TSV for debugging, logging, or documentation

Validate the converted TSV output with a linter to catch any structural issues from the conversion

Watch for data type coercion (e.g., numbers becoming strings) when converting between XLS and TSV

Data Analysts

Convert XLS exports to TSV for importing into spreadsheet software, databases, or BI tools
Transform XLS datasets to TSV for sharing with teammates who use different analysis tools

Check that column delimiters and quote escaping are handled correctly in the converted TSV file

Preview the first few rows of the TSV output to verify headers and data alignment

System Administrators

Convert XLS configuration to TSV when migrating between infrastructure tools or platforms
Transform XLS log exports to TSV for ingesting into monitoring or analysis systems

Back up the original XLS config before converting, especially for production systems

Test the converted TSV in a staging environment before deploying to production

How to Convert XLS to TSV

1

Upload your XLS file

Drag and drop your .xls file onto the converter, or click to browse. Legacy Excel 97-2003 format is fully supported.
2

Automatic conversion

Your legacy spreadsheet is parsed in the browser. Formulas are resolved to values. Formatting is stripped, leaving tab-separated raw data.
3

Download the TSV result

Click Download to save your .tsv file. Copy and paste the output directly into any modern spreadsheet.

Automate this conversion

Convert XLS to TSV via API

Integrate this conversion into your pipeline with 3 lines of code. Free tier: 25 conversions/month.

The free converter above runs entirely in your browser — your file is never uploaded. This optional API is a separate server-side endpoint for automating conversions at scale.

curl -X POST https://changethisfile.com/v1/convert \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@input.xls" \
  -F "target=tsv" \
  -o output.tsv --fail

const form = new FormData();
form.append('file', fileInput.files[0]);
form.append('target', 'tsv');

const res = await fetch('https://changethisfile.com/v1/convert', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' },
  body: form
});
const blob = await res.blob(); // your converted TSV file

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your free key — no credit card needed.

Get a free API key

Frequently Asked Questions

What versions of XLS are supported?

Excel 97-2003 .xls files (BIFF8 binary format) are fully supported. This covers the most common legacy Excel format.

Which sheet is converted?

The first sheet in the workbook is converted. Rearrange sheets in Excel before converting if you need a different sheet.

Are formulas preserved?

Formulas are resolved to their last computed values. The TSV contains calculated results, not formula expressions.

How are dates handled?

Excel dates are converted to their text representation based on the cell format.

How are tabs in cell values handled?

Tab characters within cell values are replaced to prevent breaking the TSV column structure.

Can I paste TSV into Google Sheets?

Yes. TSV is the native clipboard format for spreadsheets. Copy and paste for automatic column alignment.

Do I need Excel installed?

No. The converter uses SheetJS to parse XLS files entirely in your browser without any Office installation.

Can I convert password-protected files?

No. Password-protected XLS files cannot be read by the browser-based parser.

How large of an XLS file can I convert?

XLS files are limited to 65,536 rows by format. The converter handles all standard XLS files efficiently.

Is my data secure?

Yes. The conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never sent to any server.

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