Many people in the workplace have a bunch of old .xls Excel files. When opened with the new version of WPS, it prompts "Compatibility Mode," and formulas inexplicably fail. When uploaded to the company collaboration platform, colleagues say they can't open them. Even when copied to a mobile phone, the formatting becomes a mess. Converting Excel to Xlsx format can solve these compatibility issues in one go. It also supports larger data volumes and more advanced features, useful whether it's for financial reporting, administrative data aggregation, or teacher grade statistics—a fundamental operation for boosting office efficiency.
Why Convert Excel to Xlsx in Bulk?
1. Cross-software/device compatibility: The Xlsx format adapts perfectly to newer versions of Office, WPS, and online documents. Whether opened on a computer, phone, or tablet, it won't display garbled characters.
2. Supports more office needs: It can hold over a million rows of data and supports newer Excel features like dynamic charts and data validation, which the older .xls format does not support at all.
3. Facilitates team collaboration: Nowadays, most companies and schools default to sharing files in the Xlsx format. After conversion, there's no need for repeated format adjustments; you can just send it directly.
4. Reduces file corruption: Older .xls files are prone to corruption over time. Xlsx format storage is more stable and unlikely to have issues, even when stored in the cloud.
Effect Preview
Before Processing:
After Processing:
Method 1: HeSoft Doc Batch Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★
Pros:
1. True batch processing: It can directly select an entire folder of Excel files and convert thousands at once, without selecting them one by one.
2. Automatically fixes minor issues during conversion, like misaligned cells or invalid simple formulas. The converted file is almost identical to the original.
3. Supports batch encryption after conversion, making it suitable for handling sensitive files like financial data and contract ledgers.
Cons: Requires downloading software to use.
Steps
1. First open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . After installation, open it and find "Excel Tools" in the left function bar. Click to enter and select "Excle to xlsx".
2. Click "Add Folder", find the folder containing the files to be converted, select it, and confirm import.
3. Click "Output Path" then click "Start Conversion". Wait for the progress bar to finish. Once it shows processing is complete, go to the saved path and open the output folder to get all the Xlsx files.
Method 2: WPS/Kingsoft Docs (Combined Version)
Recommendation Rating: ★★★★☆
Pros: No need to install extra new tools. If you have WPS on your computer, you can convert locally. If not, you can use Kingsoft Docs to convert online. High flexibility.
Cons: The free version of WPS can only convert 5 files at a time; batch conversion requires a membership. Online conversion with Kingsoft Docs needs a stable network, and large files convert slowly.
Steps
1. Using WPS locally: Open WPS, click "Tools" at the top, then select "Format Converter" → "Excel to Xlsx".
2. Click "Add files", select the .xls files to convert. The free version allows selecting up to 5 files.
3. Choose the output path, click "Start Conversion", and find the files in the corresponding folder after completion.
4. Using Kingsoft Docs online: Log into your account, upload the .xls file, right-click the file and select "Save As", then choose "Xlsx Format".
Method 3: Microsoft Excel Built-in Feature
Recommendation Rating: ★★★★☆
Pros: No need to install any additional software. It can be done with the Excel that comes with the computer. The conversion quality is the most stable, and formats won't be lost.
Cons: It can only convert files one by one. If there are dozens or hundreds of files, it can be tedious.
Steps
1. Double-click to open the .xls file to be converted.
2. Click "File" at the top, then select "Save As".
3. Choose "Excel Workbook (.xlsx)" as the save type.
4. Select the save location, click "Save", and it's done after closing the file.
Method 4: CloudConvert Online Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: High conversion accuracy. Even files with complex tables and nested formulas are unlikely to have errors after conversion.
Cons: Online conversion poses data security risks. It can only convert one file per session, resulting in lower efficiency.
Steps
1. Open your browser, search for "cloudconvert", enter the official website, and find the "Excel to Xlsx" function.
2. Click "Choose File", upload the xls file to be converted, or drag and drop it directly.
3. No other parameters need to be set; the tool will start the conversion automatically.
4. Click "Download" after conversion to get the Xlsx file.
Method 5: FreeConvert Online Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: Used online, convenient for handling a small number of files.
Cons: The English interface is not very user-friendly. It only supports single file conversion and is significantly affected by network speed.
Steps
1. Go to the FreeConvert official website and select "Document Converter" on the homepage.
2. Select the "XLSX Converter" function, and click "XLS to XLSX Converter".
3. Click "Choose Flie" to upload the file. After conversion, download to get the Xlsx file.
Method 6: Zamzar Online Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: Completely free, no account registration required, online conversion.
Cons: The conversion speed is a bit slow. During peak hours, you might have to wait several minutes. Very large files (over 1M) require payment.
Steps
1. Search for "zamzar" in your browser. After entering the official website, follow the marked path to find the "xls to xlsx" function.
2. Click "ChooseFlie" to batch select the .xls files for conversion.
3. Confirm the output format is Xlsx, click "Start", and save.
Method 7: FreeFileConvert
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: Online conversion is relatively convenient, no need to download software.
Cons: Access is unstable in some regions; conversion speed depends on network speed, and slow network speed can be time-consuming.
Steps
1. Go to the FreeFileConvert official website and follow the path to select the "XLS to XLSX" function.
2. Click "Choose Files" to upload local files.
3. Confirm the output format is Xlsx, click "Convert", and wait for the tool to automatically convert.
4. After conversion, click "Download".
Method 8: LibreOffice
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: Completely free, no need to pay for a membership.
Cons: The interface is a bit complex. First-time users might need a while to find function buttons. Some advanced formats might have minor issues after conversion.
Steps
1. Open LibreOffice Calc, click "File" → "Open", select the .xls file.
2. After the file opens, click "File" → "Save As" again.
3. Select "Microsoft Excel 2007-2019 (.xlsx)" as the save type.
4. Choose the save path and click "Save".
Method 9: Online-Convert Online Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: You can set conversion parameters yourself, such as whether to retain macro commands or compress images, suitable for those with specific needs.
Cons: The free version has many ads and slow conversion speed; it only converts 1 file at a time, making batch processing very cumbersome.
Steps
1. Go to the Online-Convert official website, select "Document" → "Excel" → "Convert to Xlsx".
2. Click "Choose Files" to upload the .xls file to be converted.
3. Then click "Start conversion".
4. After conversion, click "Download" to get the file.
Method 10: Aspose Online Tool
Recommendation Rating: ★★★☆☆
Pros: Can directly upload cloud files, with no limits on file size or number of conversions.
Cons: Batch conversion requires upgrading to a paid user.
Steps
1. Go to the Aspose official website and follow the path to select the "XLS to XLSX" function.
2. Click "Dtop or upload your Files" to upload local files.
3. Confirm the output format is Xlsx, click "Convert", and wait for the tool to automatically convert.
4. After conversion, click "Download".
The above methods can essentially solve the core need of converting Excel to Xlsx. In the future, even if you need to process multiple files, don't manually convert them one by one anymore. Choosing a batch tool can significantly boost efficiency. You can select the appropriate tool based on your needs.