XLSB File Extension

Excel Binary Spreadsheet

File Type xlsb
Developer Microsoft
Popularity
4.5 (41 vote)
Application Microsoft Excel
Category Spreadsheet Files, Data Files
Format Binary

What is a XLSB file?

Excel Binary Spreadsheet works with the XLSB file extension and is classified under Spreadsheet Files and Data Files, with a total of 6309 files.

With the creation of the Excel Binary Spreadsheet (XLSB), Microsoft introduced file format along with 242 programs built for their use.

XLSB file support extends to various operating systems, including Mac OS, Windows and Linux. You can open a XLSB file using one of 7 programs, for example Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc and OpenOffice Calc.

MIME types

application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.binary.macroEnabled.12

Windows

Mac OS

Linux

How to open a XLSB file?

The most common reason why a XLSB file cannot be opened is the absence of required software. To fix this, select a compatible program from the list. Then visit the official developer website via the provided link, download the program, and install it on your system.

Thanks to their popularity, Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc and OpenOffice Calc are often the go-to programs for managing XLSB files. To install the updated version of Microsoft Excel, simply go to the Microsoft site and download the installer compatible with all major platforms.

Once setup is done, your operating system should assign Microsoft Excel as the default app for XLSB files.

Setting Microsoft Excel as default XLSB viewer

Change the default app for a file type in Mac

Initiate a right click or use Control + left click on the desired XLSB file to open a menu where you can select various actions;
Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
Scroll down to the bottom of the window, where you will find the "Enable" menu. Default, "Recommended Programs" will be selected;
In this menu, choose "All Programs" and navigate to Microsoft Excel. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make it the default program.

Change a default app in Windows

Start the process by right-clicking on your XLSB file and selecting "Open With". From there, click "Choose another app" to continue;
Choose Microsoft Excel from the available applications listed in the pop-up window to set it as the default application to open your XLSB file;
Be sure to check the "Always use this app" checkbox, and then click "OK" to confirm your selection.

Tips and tricks to solve problems with XLSB files

If you encounter issues with XLSB files, don’t worry—most can be fixed with minor software adjustments. Refer to the troubleshooting tips below.

Why does Microsoft Excel stop responding or crash intermittently?

Lack of regular software updates can cause Microsoft Excel to crash. Make sure you have installed the latest updates for Microsoft products.

Restarting your computer is an essential troubleshooting step that can resolve many common problems. It is recommended to restart your computer before making any changes to the software settings.

What are the best practices for repairing a XLSB file that has gone bad?

Start a recovery program, open the damaged XLSB file and then select the "Repair" menu item to start the repair procedure. Allow the recovery process to complete, which will automatically repair the damaged spreadsheet files.

How can I confirm if my XLSB file has been damaged?

Characteristics of corrupted XLSB spreadsheet files can include:

Editing the archive in Microsoft Excel is hampered by poor overall performance;
Microsoft Excel or other programs stop responding or crash when trying to handle the file;
When opening the file, errors occur or the inability to access its contents;
Unexplained XLSB file size inflation;
The file operation is accompanied by the display of error messages;

How to edit a XLSB file?

To modify XLSB files, you need to install special software that makes it possible to open and edit spreadsheet files. Online XLSB editors are more restricted compared to software designed for Excel Binary Spreadsheet.

Best XLSB Editor Software in 2026

Following these criteria, we have put together a list of recommended XLSB editors.

XLSB Editor Software	Developer	Platforms	Overall Rating
LibreOffice Calc	TDF	Windows, Mac OS, Linux	4.8 out of 5 (34 reviews)
Microsoft Works	Microsoft	Windows	4.6 out of 5 (46 reviews)
OpenOffice Calc	OpenOffice	Windows, Mac OS, Linux	4.5 out of 5 (46 reviews)
Microsoft Excel	Microsoft	Windows, Mac OS, Apple iOS, Android	4.4 out of 5 (39 reviews)

Convert files to and from XLSB

If obstacles arise while working with a XLSB file, you may convert it to formats like PDF, CSV, XLS, XLSX, MDB or other similar types for smoother handling.

After converting a XLSB file, some capabilities may be limited, but you can often convert it back to the original format.

Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc and OpenOffice Calc are offline tools that convert XLSB files to other formats seamlessly and without quality loss.