How to Convert FIT to Excel (Step-by-Step)

How do you convert a FIT file to Excel? Convert the FIT file to CSV first using our free FIT to CSV Converter, then import the CSV into Microsoft Excel and (optionally) save it as an .xlsx workbook.

If you're trying to open Garmin FIT workout data in Excel, this is the simplest workflow because Excel can’t open FIT directly (FIT is a binary format), but it can open CSV easily.

What you need

• A .fit file (from Garmin Connect, your device, or another training app)
• Microsoft Excel (desktop on Windows or Mac)

Step 1: Convert FIT to CSV (Excel-friendly format)

Excel doesn’t support the FIT format natively, so the first step is converting FIT → CSV:

1. Open our FIT to CSV Converter.
2. Upload your .fit file.
3. Convert and download the .csv file.

If you want a deeper explanation of what data is extracted (timestamps, GPS, heart rate, power, cadence, etc.), see: How to Convert FIT to CSV.

Step 2: Import the CSV into Excel

Windows (Excel desktop)

1. Open Excel.
2. Go to Data → Get Data → From File → From Text/CSV (menu names vary slightly by version).
3. Select your converted .csv file.
4. In the preview, confirm the delimiter (usually comma) and the file origin/encoding (UTF-8 is typical).
5. Click Load.

Mac (Excel desktop)

1. Open Excel.
2. Go to Data → Get Data (Power Query) → Text/CSV (or File → Import, depending on your version).
3. Select the .csv file and import it.
4. Confirm delimiter and encoding, then load the data into a sheet.

Step 3: Fix common formatting issues (optional but common)

Timestamps show as text

FIT-to-CSV exports often include ISO-style timestamps. If Excel doesn’t recognize them:

• Select the timestamp column
• Use Data → Text to Columns (Windows) or Excel’s import settings (Mac)
• Or create a cleaned column and format it as a date/time

Decimal separators and “wrong” numbers

If your system uses commas as decimal separators, but the CSV uses dots (or vice versa), numbers can import as text. Re-import using the correct regional settings or adjust the delimiter/decimal parsing in the import dialog.

Missing columns (GPS/power/cadence)

This usually means the device/activity didn’t record those fields (e.g., indoor workouts often have no GPS; running without a power meter has no power).

Step 4: Save as an Excel workbook (.xlsx)

If you want to keep formulas, tables, and charts:

1. Go to File → Save As
2. Choose Excel Workbook (.xlsx)

This keeps your data in Excel-native format for future edits.

Troubleshooting

“Everything is in one column”

That typically means the delimiter wasn’t detected correctly during import. Re-import the CSV and explicitly choose the delimiter (comma or semicolon, depending on your locale).

The file is huge and Excel is slow

Long activities at 1-second recording can create very large CSV files. Options:

• Import only the columns you need
• Filter data after import (e.g., remove empty columns)
• Use Excel tables and avoid volatile formulas

Related resources

• Convert first: FIT to CSV Converter
• Conversion details: How to Convert FIT to CSV
• Next step (analysis): How to Analyze Garmin FIT Data in Excel
• Background: Complete Guide to Garmin FIT Files

Start converting

Ready to do it? Use our FIT to CSV Converter to convert your FIT file to CSV, then import the CSV into Excel in minutes.