To translate strings from an Excel file, import the .xls or .xlsx file into a POEditor project, translate the strings with the available translation options, then export them back to Excel or to any other supported format.

1. Create a translation project

Log in to your account, create a new translation project and add the source language to it.

2. Import strings from your Excel file

Use Import in the project page to import your .xls or .xlsx file. You can import both the terms and the translations.

POEditor expects the data in the file's columns in this order: term, translation, context, reference, comment. The only mandatory column is column A, with the terms.

If you have string IDs (labels or keys) in the first column, they are imported to the project as terms. In this case, keep the source strings in column B and import them as translations to the source language. To see the source strings in the target languages in POEditor, set this language as Default Reference Language in the project's settings.

3. Translate into your target languages

Add the languages you want, then choose how to translate them:

• AI translation with your own OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Azure AI or Amazon Bedrock account. You can customize the prompt to match your tone.
• Machine translation with Google Translate, DeepL or Azure AI Translator.
• Your own translators, invited as contributors to specific languages.
• Human translations, ordered from the available LSPs.

Translation memory (available from the Start plan) suggests earlier translations of similar strings, and QA checks and QE feature catch issues before export.

4. Export the translations

You can export the target languages to Excel or to any of the supported file formats at any time, using Export in the translation pages.

If you want to automate the import/export, use the POEditor API, one of the integrations with code hosting platforms or Workflows.

Only need to edit an Excel file, not translate it? See the XLS Editor.