Convert XLSM to XLSX — Free Online Converter

XLSM and XLSX are both modern OOXML Excel formats — the only difference is that XLSM contains VBA macro code while XLSX explicitly prohibits macros. Both use the same ZIP-compressed XML structure for worksheets, formulas, formatting, charts, and pivot tables. The .xlsm extension signals to Excel that the file may contain executable macro code.

Converting XLSM to XLSX strips all VBA macro code from the workbook while preserving all worksheet data, formulas, formatting, and features — producing a macro-free spreadsheet that is safer to distribute and won't trigger macro security warnings.

Many organizations block XLSM files in email attachments and file sharing as a security measure, since VBA macros can contain malicious code. Converting to XLSX removes the macro payload, allowing the workbook to pass through email filters and security scanners without triggering alerts.

XLSX is also preferred when sharing spreadsheet data with external parties who don't need the automation. Stripping macros reduces file size, eliminates security concerns, and produces a cleaner deliverable focused purely on the data and analysis.

LibreOffice opens the XLSM file and saves as XLSX, preserving all OOXML worksheet content while omitting the VBA project storage. Cell values, formulas, formatting, conditional formatting, charts, pivot tables, data validation, named ranges, and sheet structure are all preserved identically — the underlying XML structure is virtually the same. Only the vbaProject.bin binary storage (containing VBA modules, forms, and class modules) is removed.