Excel File Info Convert Button Missing: Convert Your Workbook with Save As
Question details
The user wants to convert an Excel workbook out of Compatibility Mode when the Convert button is missing from File > Info.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An older-format workbook is open in Excel, and the user expects a Convert command similar to the one available in Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- The workbook opens in Compatibility Mode, but File > Info does not display the expected Convert button.
Check the workbook's current file extension and whether it contains VBA macros. Choose XLSX for a standard workbook or XLSM if you need to preserve VBA macros.
Use Save As to convert the Excel workbook to a modern format
Use this method when File > Info does not show Convert; Save As lets you change the workbook format without relying on that button.
Compatibility Mode usually indicates that the workbook uses an older Excel format, such as XLS. The availability and location of the Convert command can differ between Office applications and Excel versions, so a Word screenshot may not match your Excel interface.
Open the workbook in Microsoft Excel. Check the filename or title bar for the XLS extension or a Compatibility Mode label.
Select File > Save As. If Excel displays location choices, select Browse or the appropriate folder to open the save dialog.
In Save as type or File Format, select Excel Workbook (*.xlsx). If the workbook contains VBA macros, select Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm) instead.
Enter a filename, choose a folder, and click Save. Review any format or feature warnings before confirming. If Excel warns that VBA content cannot be saved in XLSX, cancel and choose XLSM.
Open the newly saved XLSX or XLSM file rather than the original XLS file. Confirm that Compatibility Mode is no longer shown, then check important formulas, formatting, and workbook features.
Open and save Excel workbooks with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative with a familiar spreadsheet interface and support for Microsoft Excel formats, making it easy to move existing workbooks over. It does not restore Excel's missing Convert button, but you can open an XLS workbook in WPS Spreadsheet and use Save As to create an XLSX copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word show a Convert button but Excel does not?
Word and Excel do not always expose conversion commands in the same way, and availability can vary by version and workbook state. In Excel, open File > Save As and choose XLSX or XLSM to convert the workbook without that button.
Which format should I choose to leave Compatibility Mode?
In File > Save As, choose Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) for a standard workbook. Choose Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm) if you need to preserve VBA macros. Saving as Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls) retains the older format.
Will saving an XLS file as XLSX remove my macros?
XLSX cannot store VBA macros. If your workbook contains them, select XLSM in the Save As dialog. If Excel displays a warning about losing VBA content, cancel the save and switch to XLSM.
Why does Compatibility Mode still appear after I save the file?
You may have saved the workbook as XLS again or reopened the original file. Use File > Save As to select XLSX or XLSM, then open the newly saved file and verify its extension.
Can I just rename the file extension from XLS to XLSX?
No. Renaming the extension does not convert the workbook's internal format and can cause a format mismatch warning. Open the file in Excel and use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) instead.
