XLSX Metadata Viewer
Inspect workbook properties, comments, and custom fields in XLSX files while keeping data intact.
Drag & drop a file here, or click to select
Max file size: 100 MB
Looking to remove metadata instead? Go to the Metadata Remover.
Why view XLSX metadata?
Checking XLSX metadata helps you protect privacy, verify authenticity, and understand how the file was created.
Audit authorship
See author/company, title/subject, and keywords stored in your XLSX.
Track revisions
Review creation/modified dates and last-modified-by to trust the version history of your XLSX.
Catch hidden fields
Spot custom properties, comments, and template identifiers before sending your XLSX.
Preview the report layout
See how we surface EXIF, PDF, and video metadata before you upload your own file.
Example Metadata Report
After uploading, you'll get a detailed breakdown of your file's hidden data, similar to the example below.
Want to check your own file's metadata? Upload it above - no signup required.
Our secure process
We show you exactly what happens when you upload a file, so you know where your data goes and what stays untouched.
Upload over HTTPS
Pick or drop your XLSX. Transfers are secure.
Parse metadata only
We read headers and metadata blocks; the file content is not changed or recompressed.
Highlight key signals
We group timestamps, authorship, location, and technical fields so you can spot what matters quickly.
Display readable results
You see structured metadata grouped by sections for fast review with no downloads required.
Delete temporary copy
The transient server copy is purged right after processing completes.
Want to try it out? Upload your file above, no signup required.
What XLSX metadata can you view?
Here are the fields you can inspect before you share or archive the file. Use them to verify provenance, quality, and privacy.
- Author/company, subject, keywords, and last modified by fields
- Comments, revision info, and custom properties in workbooks
- Template or application identifiers tied to the sheet
What metadata lives inside an XLSX
XLSX follows the same Office Open XML package pattern as DOCX and PPTX, with docProps/core.xml (Dublin Core), docProps/app.xml (Excel-specific), and docProps/custom.xml (typed custom properties). The Excel-specific app.xml adds TitlesOfParts listing every sheet name in the workbook, HeadingPairs summarizing the sheet structure, and Application/AppVersion identifying the exact Excel build that saved the file. A workbook with AppVersion="16.0300" came from Excel 2019 or later; "15.xxxx" is Excel 2013, "14.xxxx" is 2010.
Cell comments are stored in xl/comments*.xml as authored notes with author and text per comment. The author list at the top of each comments part deduplicates names — so a workbook with three comments from Jane and two from Bob has exactly two author entries, which is a direct leak of both identities even if individual comments look anonymous. Threaded comments (introduced in Excel for Microsoft 365) have their own part xl/threadedComments*.xml with richer metadata: parent-child IDs, timestamps, mentions, and resolution state.
Beyond comments, XLSX leaks internal detail through hidden sheets (sheetState="hidden" or "veryHidden" in xl/workbook.xml), defined names pointing at external workbooks (which reveal the file path and server), external links (xl/externalLinks/externalLink*.xml containing remote workbook URLs), VBA macros (xl/vbaProject.bin for .xlsm files) with their own authoring metadata, and pivot cache source data including row-level fragments of original data even after a filter was applied. The viewer summarizes sheet visibility, external-link targets, and comment-author counts so you can audit these vectors before a handoff.
XLSX metadata FAQs
Can hidden sheets leak data even if I password-protect the workbook?
Password protection does not encrypt the XML. Hidden and very-hidden sheets are visible when the XLSX is unzipped, and their data is present in plain XML. The viewer reports hidden-sheet count so you know they exist.
Where are cell comment authors stored?
xl/comments*.xml has an authors list at the top (unique names) and individual comments referencing author by index. The viewer shows the authors list — a direct identity leak if comments came from multiple people.
Do pivot tables carry extra metadata?
Yes. Pivot caches (xl/pivotCache/*.xml) contain the source data that fed the pivot, often including rows the visible pivot has filtered out. The viewer notes pivot cache presence.
How do I see external-link targets?
xl/externalLinks/externalLink*.xml stores each external reference's target (remote workbook path or URL). The viewer lists these targets so you can confirm no internal server paths leak.
Can XLSX comments be threaded?
Yes — Excel for Microsoft 365 introduced threaded comments with parent-child structure, timestamps, and @-mentions. They live in xl/threadedComments*.xml. The viewer distinguishes classic notes from threaded comments.