Convert Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel
Open decades-old Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets in modern Excel — values, formulas, and layout intact, converted in bulk on your own PC.
TL;DR
Install the free trial, add your .wk1/.wk3/.wk4/.123 files (or a whole folder), choose Excel (XLSX), and convert. Cell values, formulas, and sheet structure carry over, and every file stays on your machine.
How to convert Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel (XLSX) — step by step
Install Legacy File Converter (free trial)
Download the Windows installer. The trial converts up to 10 files with every feature enabled.
Add your Lotus files or folders
Drag in individual .wk1, .wk3, .wk4, or .123 files, or select an entire folder tree — Lotus spreadsheets are found recursively, even with missing or wrong extensions.
Choose Excel (XLSX) as the output
Select XLSX (you can also emit CSV or PDF in the same run). Pick an output folder to keep your originals untouched.
Convert and open in Excel
Click Convert — files process locally in parallel. Open the workbooks in Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets.
Why convert Lotus 1-2-3 files to Excel?
Modern Excel dropped support for Lotus 1-2-3 files, so those .wk1 and .123 spreadsheets no longer open. Converting them to XLSX turns frozen archives back into living workbooks you can edit, chart, and share.
For finance, engineering, and government teams, converting Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel unlocks decades of models and ledgers — searchable, auditable, and usable in the tools your organization already runs.
Safer than online Lotus 1-2-3 converters
Searching for a "free online Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel (XLSX) converter" means uploading your files to someone else's server — a real problem for confidential documents, personal photos, and any private archive. Legacy File Converter runs entirely on your Windows PC: files are converted locally and never leave your machine. It also handles whole folders 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 a one-time $79.95 Standard license. No subscription, no watermarks, no uploads.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to convert Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel?
Yes. The free trial of Legacy File Converter converts up to 10 files with full features — no signup, no watermarks. For unlimited conversions, a Standard license is a one-time $79.95 (no subscription).
Is this an online converter? Do my files get uploaded?
No. Legacy File Converter is a Windows desktop app — every conversion runs 100% locally on your PC. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for confidential documents and personal files that shouldn't be pasted into a random website.
Can I convert a whole folder of Lotus 1-2-3 files at once?
Yes. Point Legacy File Converter at a folder (it scans subfolders recursively), select Excel as the output, and it batch-converts every .wk1/.wk3/.wk4/.123 file in one run.
Can this app convert more than just this one format?
Yes — that's the point. Legacy File Converter handles 100+ legacy and modern formats in a single app: WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro Pro, Microsoft Works, XPS, HEIC, Photoshop (PSD), TIFF, AVIF, and many more. One tool covers your whole mixed archive.
Can Excel open Lotus 1-2-3 files by itself?
Not anymore. Microsoft removed Lotus 1-2-3 import support from Excel, so those files fail to open. Converting to XLSX first is the reliable path.
Do formulas survive the conversion?
Yes. Formulas, values, and sheet structure are mapped to native Excel equivalents so your models stay calculable, not just readable.
Related
Ready to convert your Lotus 1-2-3 files to Excel?
Free trial converts 10 files — full fidelity, no watermarks, everything stays on your PC.
Free trial
Full app features · up to 10 files
Windows 10 or 11
Same free trial as always — download the Windows installer and convert locally on your PC.
Direct Windows installer · offline MSI
Is this safe? — publisher, installer, and SmartScreen help
Requires Windows 10 or 11. No subscriptions. 100% Windows Native.