OpenAnyFile
What is a .xlt file?
Excel 97-2003 Template is a spreadsheet format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1987. It is usually created by Microsoft Excel.
The legacy binary template. Opening one spawns a copy called Book1 rather than editing the template itself.
File details
| Full name | Excel 97-2003 Template |
|---|---|
| Category | Spreadsheets |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| Signature (magic bytes) | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1987 |
| Opens with | Spreadsheet viewer |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .xlt file
OpenAnyFile routes .xlt files to its spreadsheet viewer, which shows every sheet as a scrollable table.
- Drop your .xlt file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the spreadsheet viewer.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: every sheet as a scrollable table. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Pixel-perfect layout and editing. Content is converted for reading; complex layouts may shift.
Is it safe to open a .xlt file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .xlt files
Can I open a .xlt file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .xlt files in your browser using its spreadsheet viewer. You get every sheet as a scrollable table, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .xlt file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine XLT file begins with D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .xlt file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.