Documents conversion
Convert XLSX to CSV
Updated Jul 2026
XLSX is the Excel spreadsheet format, and CSV is a plain text list of values that almost any program can read. To convert XLSX to CSV, open the file in a converter and export the sheet as comma-separated values. Doing it on your own computer keeps whatever numbers or records are in that spreadsheet off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .xlsx
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Spreadsheets
- Extension
- .csv
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Data, spreadsheets
Convert XLSX to CSV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert XLSX to CSV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the XLSX file you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose CSV as the output format.
- Convert. The CSV is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
XLSX vs CSV: what actually changes
| XLSX | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple sheets | Yes, one file can hold many tabs | No, each CSV is a single sheet |
| Formulas | Yes, cells can calculate values | No, only the calculated result is kept |
| Formatting and colors | Yes, fonts, colors, borders, column widths | No, plain text only |
| File size | Larger, stores formatting and structure | Smaller, just the raw data |
| Opens everywhere | Needs Excel or a compatible spreadsheet app | Yes, any text editor, database, or script can read it |
| Good for importing into other tools | Sometimes tricky, format-specific | Yes, the standard format for data import |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert XLSX to CSV when you need to import the data into another program, a database, or a script, or when you're sharing a table with someone who just needs the raw values, not the formatting.
Keep the XLSX original if the spreadsheet has formulas, multiple sheets, or formatting you rely on, because CSV only stores one flat sheet of plain values and can't bring any of that back.
Why not just use an online converter?
Spreadsheets often hold the kind of data people are most careful with, like customer lists, budgets, or personal records. An online converter means that file, values and all, gets uploaded to a stranger's server before you get anything back. Converting on your own computer means the data never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting XLSX to CSV lose anything?
Yes. CSV only stores plain values, so formulas turn into their calculated results, and formatting like colors, fonts, and column widths is dropped entirely. If the spreadsheet has more than one sheet, only one converts at a time.
What happens if my XLSX file has multiple sheets?
CSV can only hold one sheet per file, so each tab needs to be exported separately. Morphjet converts the sheet you're working with, but it won't merge several tabs into one CSV.
Will the CSV keep my formulas?
No. Only the result a formula produces is kept, not the formula itself. If you reopen the CSV later, you'll see numbers, not the calculation behind them.
Can I convert XLSX to CSV without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it's never sent over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Why do so many tools ask for a CSV instead of an XLSX file?
CSV is just plain text, so it's easy for any program, database, or script to read without needing to understand Excel's file structure. That simplicity is also why it can't hold formulas or formatting.
Morphjet converts XLSX, CSV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.