Excel: Compatibility mode - what's behind the mode

The Excel spreadsheet program is backward compatible with all previous versions. However, if you want to edit a workbook from an earlier version of Excel with a current version, you must use compatibility mode to do so so that the workbook can be reopened in the older version afterwards.

How compatibility mode works in Excel

When you open a workbook in an Excel version after 2010 that was created with an older version, it will automatically open in compatibility mode. You can recognize this by the square brackets next to the file name in the title bar. This mode is especially useful if you want to reopen and edit the workbook in the older version afterwards.

1. In compatibility mode, you will not find any of Excel's new or improved features. This is so that data loss is avoided.
2. Also, saving is done in an older file format like "xls". You can not select newer formats.
3. You can not manually activate the mode, even if this is possible in other Office programs. In addition, it is not possible to subsequently add new features or activate them.
4. Note that you can, however, terminate the compatibility mode at any time. To do this, you just need to save the file in a newer format. To do this, it is necessary to convert the file. To do this, go to "File" > "Information" > "Compatibility Mode" and click on the convert button.
5. Confirm your selection with "Yes". Then you can edit your workbook as usual.