Convert XLS to TSV
Free, fast XLS → TSV. No watermarks, no sign-up.
How to convert XLS to TSV
1. Upload XLS
Drop your XLS file into the converter above.
2. Confirm TSV
Output is already set to TSV. Adjust only if you need to.
3. Download
Convert and download your TSV file instantly.
Format Details
XLS
XLS is the legacy binary spreadsheet format used by Microsoft Excel from 1987 through the Office 2003 era, based on Microsoft's proprietary Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF). It stores worksheets, formulas, charts, and macros in a binary structure that requires Microsoft's format specification to parse correctly. XLS remains common in older enterprise systems and when compatibility with legacy versions of Excel is required.
dataTSV
TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is a plain-text tabular data format that uses tab characters as column delimiters and newlines to separate rows, making it similar to CSV but avoiding issues when data values contain commas. It is well-supported by spreadsheet applications, relational databases, and scripting languages, and is commonly used for data exports from bioinformatics databases, genome browsers, and text-processing pipelines.
dataConverting XLS to TSV: what actually changes
XLS to TSV is one of the conversions this site performs, but the two formats are not interchangeable containers. Here is what the file keeps, what it loses, and how to get a result you can use.
What .XLS and .TSV each hold
.XLS is a data format built for analysing, importing or exchanging records, storing rows, columns and value types. .TSV is a data format built for analysing, importing or exchanging records, storing rows, columns and value types. Converting between them is a decision about which of those two jobs the result needs to do.
What changes in the conversion
Both files belong to the data category, so this is a like-for-like repackage: the same kind of content, stored in a different container. What changes is how .TSV encodes rows, columns and value types — not what the file is about.
When this conversion is the right one
Reach for .TSV when the software, device or platform you are sending to expects it — the content is the same data, only the packaging differs. The reverse direction works the same way, so you can always convert back from .TSV to .XLS using the same tool.
Tips for a clean XLS to TSV conversion
Start from the original file
Convert the .XLS you started with, not an earlier .TSV output. Every extra round trip costs quality and can accumulate formatting drift.
Check the real type, not the extension
Application/vnd.ms-excel becomes text/tab-separated-values. If a file was renamed rather than converted, it will fail to open — rename it back to its true extension before uploading and the conversion will recognise it.
Confirm the structure first
Open the .XLS briefly and check delimiters, headers and encoding. A misplaced separator or a stray quote is the usual reason the output looks wrong even though the conversion succeeded.
Limits worth knowing
Uploads are capped per file (30 MB, or 100 MB for video) and processed temporarily — nothing is kept as a permanent copy. For huge data files, split or compress the source first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert XLS to TSV?
Upload your XLS file on Convertek, select TSV as the output format, then click Convert. Your TSV file will be ready to download instantly.
Is the XLS to TSV converter free?
Yes. Converting XLS to TSV on Convertek is completely free with no watermarks. Fair upload limits apply (typically 30 MB per file).
Is my file kept after conversion?
No. Files are processed temporarily and not stored permanently. Converted downloads are available only in your browser session.
What is the difference between XLS and TSV?
XLS and TSV are different file formats with distinct use cases. Converting between them lets you use your file in software or workflows that require the TSV format.