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There are several ways to open Excel spreadsheets in Linux, such as using a virtual machine, But it can also be installed directly on Ubuntu Linux.

Migrating from Windows to Linux is very simple, But the problems get worse when you try to install a specific application or video game on Linux. A simple example is Microsoft Office. You may have a much-needed and relatively complex spreadsheet. This file can be an XLS or XLSX file that you have worked with for years and can only be opened with Microsoft Excel. Solving this problem is simple. In this article, you will learn how to install Microsoft Excel on Ubuntu.

How to install Microsoft Excel on Ubuntu Linux

You can install the full version of Microsoft Office on Linux; But if you only want to use Excel, what is the solution? If you have the right hardware, installing Excel on a Linux computer will not be a problem; however, this is not always easy. Now the question arises, what are the alternatives to Excel in Linux?

Excel installation alternatives in Linux

You do not need Excel to open an XLS or XLSX spreadsheet Because other suitable alternatives are available, But they are not suitable for all scenarios.

• Run LibreOffice Calc
• Use Microsoft Office online
• Run Excel on Linux using a virtual machine

Run LibreOffice Calc

LibreOffice is the most common alternative to Microsoft Office on Linux systems. Most Windows immigrants can clearly see the relationship between Calc and Excel. However, this software does not work well with macros and does not print spreadsheets accurately. Therefore, if you are using a macro in a spreadsheet, it is not a good option.

Use Microsoft Office online.

The Microsoft Office browser version is very useful Because it is free to use and can be used for tasks such as text processing, email, spreadsheets, and presentations. This is the fastest and most optimized version of Excel on Ubuntu or other Linux distributions, and all you need is an Internet connection and a browser. Mozilla Firefox and Chromium are both ideal options for using Microsoft Office online.

Run Excel on Linux using a virtual machine.

Virtual machines are one of the popular options for many users who have medium and advanced computers. Computers with Intel Core i5 or more powerful CPU support can usually use Virtual Machine Excel easily. Weaker processors such as the Intel Core i3 or ARM processors do not perform as well as the virtual machine; Therefore, if you are running Linux on an older computer, you will not be able to run Windows on a virtual machine. However, in most cases, the smartest way is to install Excel directly on Linux.

How to install Windows software on Linux?

Fortunately, you can install Windows software on Linux. Sometimes software installation is natively possible and sometimes simulation is required. For example, older MS-DOS software can be installed on Linux as well as Windows and macOS using DOSBox. Dosbox is an emulator for MS-DS; However, other systems can also be simulated with the appropriate software. To install Excel on Linux, you need the installable version of Excel and Wine and its accompanying application, PlayOnLinux.

• Check the compatibility of the Excel version with PlayOnLinux
• Install Microsoft Excel on Linux using Wine and PlayOnLinux
• Install Winbind

Check the compatibility of the Excel version with PlayOnLinux

With PlayOnLinux, you can find the latest version of Microsoft Excel running on Linux. At the time of writing, the 2016 version is available. In general, there is a slight difference between this version and the new version, But it is always better to install the latest version. In addition, Wayne supports embedded software from EXO and ISO virtual files and physical media.

Install Microsoft Excel on Linux using Wine and PlayOnLinux.

Many current versions of Linux have Wine and PlayOnLinux installed by default. To install them, open the app menu and find Games. You can also find them under the Accessories category; Otherwise, you have to install them manually. You can find both in the default package manager of your Linux operating system.

Search for Wine and PlayOnLinux, then click Install. After installing Wine and PlayOnLinux on the system, start installing them:

1. Open PlayOnLinux.

۲. Click Install a program to open the search tool.

3. Search Microsoft Office.

Install Winbind

You will need Windbind software to complete the installation and ensure that your Microsoft account has been verified. To do this, open the terminal and enter the following phrase:

sudo apt install playonlinux winbind –y

Wait until the installation is complete, and then return to PlayOnLinux. Install Excel from Microsoft Office 2016 as follows:

1. Click Install.

2. Wait for the Microsoft Office installation wizard to appear.

3. Select Microsoft Excel 2016.

4. Click Install.

5. Agree with EULA.

6. Click Install again.

Next, PlayOnLinux manages the installation of Microsoft Excel on the Linux system. After completing this process, you will notice some errors related to installing OneNote, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint. Since you did not select these options, you can ignore the messages by clicking Next. When completed, Microsoft Excel creates a shortcut on the desktop. All you have to do is double-click on the shortcut, and Microsoft Excel will run on Linux.

Install Excel Viewer on Linux

Another option is to use Microsoft Excel Viewer 2003. This free software opens Excel files; But it does not allow editing files. PlayOnLinux downloads ExcelVivor for Linux and installs it for you automatically.

1. Search for excel.

۲. Select Microsoft Excel Viewer.

3. Click Install.

4. Click Next until the installation begins.

5. Select Download the program.

6. Click Next to continue the installation.

Wait for Microsoft Fonts to install and display. After sorting, you will see the main Excel Viewer installer. Based on the initial warnings, accept the default options and follow the installation wizard to the end. Moments later, Excel Viewer is installed. You no longer need to create new spreadsheets, and with this tool, you can print and print existing spreadsheets. If no desktop shortcut is created, the Excel viewer will run on the PlayOnLinux application window.