Convert XLR (and WKS) to Excel
Open Microsoft Works spreadsheets in Excel again — .xlr and .wks files converted to clean .xlsx, in bulk, entirely on your PC.
TL;DR
Install the free Works Converter trial, add your .xlr or .wks files, choose XLSX, and convert. Formulas, numbers, and cell layout come across as real Excel spreadsheets — nothing is uploaded.
How to convert XLR to Excel (XLSX) — step by step
Install Works Converter (free trial)
Download the offline installer for Windows 10/11. The trial converts up to 10 files free with all features.
Add XLR or WKS files (or a whole folder)
Drag in .xlr and .wks files, or point the app at a folder tree. It scans subfolders recursively and detects Works spreadsheets even with wrong extensions.
Choose XLSX as the output format
Select Excel (.xlsx). Need CSV for a database import or data pipeline instead? Choose CSV in the same run.
Convert and open in Excel
Click Convert, then open the results in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets. Everything was processed on your PC — no uploads.
Why convert Works spreadsheets to Excel?
Modern Excel cannot open Microsoft Works .xlr or .wks spreadsheets — the import filters were dropped years ago, so a double-click just fails. Converting to XLSX is the only reliable way to get decades of ledgers, budgets, and models back into a spreadsheet you can actually use.
A proper conversion keeps the data as data: numbers stay numeric, columns stay aligned, and supported formulas carry over — so you can sort, chart, and recalculate instead of retyping rows by hand.
Safer than online XLR converters
Searching for a "free online XLR converter" means uploading your files to someone else's server — a real problem for financial records, client data, and anything else confidential. Works Converter runs entirely on your Windows PC: files are converted locally and never leave your machine. It also handles thousands of files in one batch, which no upload-one-file-at-a-time website can do.
The free trial converts up to 10 files with every feature enabled — for most people that's the whole job. Larger archives are covered by Standard from $39.95, one-time. No subscription, no watermarks, no uploads.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to convert XLR to Excel?
Yes. The free trial of Works Converter converts up to 10 files with full features — no signup and no watermarks. For unlimited conversions, Standard is a one-time $39.95 (no subscription).
Is this an online converter? Do my files get uploaded?
No. Works Converter is a Windows desktop app — every conversion runs 100% locally on your PC. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for financial, legal, and other confidential archives that shouldn't be pasted into a random website.
Can I convert an entire folder of XLR files at once?
Yes. Point Works Converter at a folder (it scans subfolders recursively), select Excel as the output, and it batch-converts everything — thousands of files in one run, processed in parallel.
Which Microsoft Works versions are supported?
Works Converter reads files from Microsoft Works 2.0 through Works 9 and the Works Suite editions, and detects Works content even when file extensions are missing or wrong.
What is the difference between .xlr and .wks files?
.wks is the older Microsoft Works spreadsheet format; .xlr is the format used by later Works versions. Works Converter reads both and converts them to modern .xlsx (or CSV).
Can Excel open .xlr files directly?
No — current versions of Excel cannot open .xlr or .wks files. Converting to .xlsx first is the reliable path, and it preserves your numbers and layout as real spreadsheet data.
Related
Get your Works spreadsheets back into Excel
Free trial converts 10 files to XLSX — batch, offline, and no watermarks.
Free trial
Full app features - up to 10 files
Windows 10 or 11
Download the offline installer below for the full 10-file trial. Conversion stays on your PC.