How to Remove Compatibility Mode in Excel (2 Easy Ways)

Opening an Excel file that was originally saved in an older version of Excel (i.e., Excel 1997 to 2003) will require Excel to open the workbook in filename-Compatibility Mode format as shown in the following screenshot.

You can also see the Accessibility is Unavailable as the dataset is in Compatibility Mode.

Finding Compatible Mode Type or Excel Version of a File

Go to File on the Ribbon.

Select the Info option (on the left side of the window).
Choose the Check for Issues option (on the right side of the window).
Select Check Compatibility.

The Compatibility Checker window opens.
In the window, you see the saved file version in Excel as shown below.

Excel Common File Types Regarding Excel Versions

Excel Version for Common File	File Extension
Excel 1997-2003	.xls
Excel Workbook (newer version)	.xlsx
Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (newer version)	.xlsm

If any file saved with the .xls extension gets opened in a newer Excel version, Excel shows the Compatibility Mode note after the file’s name at the top of any workbooks.

Method 1: Using Save As Option to Remove Compatibility Mode in Excel

Select File on the ribbon.

Select Save As.
Select a Location.
Select Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) as the format.

Click Save.

Excel will save a duplicate of the file in the new format (*.xlsx) and you can find the duplicate in the stored folder.

Open the duplicate newer Excel file. There is no Compatibility Mode as shown below.

The Accessibility status is Good to go as the file is in the new format (i.e., xlsx Excel format).

Method 2 – Using Convert Option (Leaving Compatibility Mode) to Remove Compatibility Mode in Excel

Select File on the ribbon.

Select Info.
Select Convert.

Click Ok in the dialog box that appears.

Click YES in the next dialog box.

Compatibility Mode has been removed from the file.

⧭ Things Keep in Mind

You can save any workbook as an older version (i.e., Excel 97-2003 Workbook(*.xls)) of Excel using current versions of Excel (i.e., Excel 2007 (*.xlsx) and onwards), using the Save As option.

After converting the file from the old file format to the current file format, delete the old file to avoid mix ups while using the file.

Download Excel Workbook

We add an Excel workbook saved in older format to practice the described methods below.

Remove Compatibility Mode.xlsx