.XLW File Extension

Beginning with Excel 2013 and later versions, Excel no longer allows you to save workspaces as XLW files. However, the application still allows you to open XLW files saved with Excel 2010 and earlier.

To create an XLW workspace file with Excel 2007 or 2010, follow these steps:

1. Open the workbook(s) you want included in the workspace and arrange them to how you want them to appear
2. Click Save Workspace in the Window group in the View tab.
3. Name the file, choose the save location, and click Save

NOTE: XLW files do not include workbook data files. They only store the layout of the workbooks on the screen. You must have all workbook files available to reopen an XLW file properly.

You can only open XLW files with Microsoft Excel in Windows and macOS. To open an XLW file, select File → Open, choose the file, and click Open.

When XLW files are opened, Excel restores the workbooks back to their saved locations on the screen.

Excel no longer supports the saving of XLW workbook files, but it can still open them. Later versions of Excel allow you to save workbooks as .XLSX, .XLSM, and .XLSB files.

NOTE: Excel 4 workbooks only store worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets. They are formatted differently than Excel Workspace files, which are saved by other versions of Excel and also use the .xlw extension.

You can open XLW files with Microsoft Excel in Windows and macOS. To open an XLW file, select File → Open, choose the file, and click Open.

NOTE: Later versions of Excel may not display the workbook contents differently than Excel 4.0.