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Free Online Excel Spreadsheet Viewer View Excel spreadsheets as formatted, sortable tables without Excel installed.

Excel Viewer illustration
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Excel Viewer

View Excel spreadsheets as formatted, sortable tables without Excel installed.

1

Upload file

Drop or select your Excel file (.xlsx, .xls, .ods).

2

Select sheet

Choose a sheet to view from multi-sheet workbooks.

3

Sort and explore

Click column headers to sort. View all data in a formatted table.

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What Is Excel Viewer?

A Excel Viewer is a web-based application that allows users to view Microsoft Excel spreadsheets directly in their browser without needing Excel or any other spreadsheet application installed. It is commonly used by developers, data analysts, and researchers who need to quickly inspect and review Excel files, such as xlsx, xls, and ods formats, online. One specific problem it solves is the inability to access Excel files on devices where Excel is not installed, which can be a significant hurdle in collaborative work environments.

The tool stands out from other spreadsheet viewers due to its ability to render spreadsheets as clean, sortable HTML tables with features like row numbers and column sorting. For instance, when using it to view excel online, the viewer allows users to sort data by clicking on column headers, making it easier to analyze and understand complex datasets. Additionally, it supports multi-sheet Excel files, enabling users to easily switch between different sheets within a single file.

It utilizes the SheetJS library to parse and render Excel files in the browser, ensuring that all processing happens locally and no sensitive data is uploaded to any server. This makes it an excellent choice for viewing excel spreadsheets online while maintaining data security and privacy. As a result, users can rely on it as a trusted xlsx viewer or excel reader online to inspect and review their Excel files with confidence.

Why Use Excel Viewer?

  • No Excel installation required — view spreadsheets in any browser.
  • Multi-sheet support with easy sheet switching.
  • Sortable columns with automatic numeric detection.
  • Complete privacy — files never leave your device.

Common Use Cases

Quick File Preview

Preview Excel files quickly without opening a full spreadsheet application.

Mobile Viewing

On mobile devices where Excel may not be available, view spreadsheets directly in the browser.

Data Review

Review spreadsheet data with sorting capability for quick analysis.

Chromebook/Linux

Chromebook and Linux users can view Excel files without installing Microsoft Office.

Technical Guide

File parsing uses the SheetJS (xlsx) library which reads the binary spreadsheet format from an ArrayBuffer. The sheet_to_json() utility with header:1 option extracts all rows as arrays of values, preserving cell types.

The viewer renders the first row as table headers and subsequent rows as data. Column sorting works the same as the CSV Viewer: click to sort ascending, click again for descending, with automatic numeric detection.

Multi-sheet support reads all sheet names from the workbook and provides buttons for sheet switching. When a new sheet is selected, the table is re-rendered with that sheet's data.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    For multi-sheet workbooks, use the sheet buttons to switch between sheets.
  • 2
    Click column headers to sort the data by that column.
  • 3
    Very large spreadsheets may take a moment to load depending on your device.
  • 4
    Formatting (colors, borders, fonts) from Excel is not displayed — only data values.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Which file formats are supported?
.xlsx, .xls, .xlsb (Excel binary), and .ods (OpenDocument) formats are supported.
Q Is Excel formatting preserved?
No, only data values are displayed. Cell colors, borders, and fonts are not rendered.
Q Can I edit the spreadsheet?
This is a viewer-only tool. Use a spreadsheet application for editing.
Q Is my file secure?
Yes, all processing happens in your browser. Files are never uploaded to any server.
Q What about charts and images?
Charts, images, and other embedded objects are not displayed. Only cell data is shown.

About This Tool

Excel Viewer is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.