Import and View XLIFF Files, Export to CSV
M21Global's free tool for translation files
Try XLIFF ExplorerXLIFF Explorer is a free web tool developed by M21Global that lets you open, view and export XLIFF translation files directly in your browser. No installation required, no CAT tool licence needed. Upload your .xliff or .xlf file, inspect source and target segments side by side, and download the content as CSV when you need it in a spreadsheet.
XLIFF (XML Localisation Interchange File Format) is the industry standard for exchanging translation data between tools, platforms and language service providers. Yet many professionals who receive XLIFF files have no easy way to read them. XLIFF Explorer solves that problem in seconds: drag and drop the file, and every translation unit is displayed in a clean, readable table.
Built by a translation company with more than 20 years of experience and ISO 17100 certification, XLIFF Explorer reflects M21Global's commitment to making professional translation workflows accessible to everyone.
Opens any XLIFF file instantly
XLIFF Explorer accepts both XLIFF 1.2 and XLIFF 2.0 files, as well as the .xlf shorthand extension used by many CAT tools. Simply drag and drop your file onto the page or use the file picker. The parser processes the XML structure and displays every translation unit within seconds, regardless of file size.
There is nothing to install and no account to create. The tool runs entirely in the browser, which means your files never leave your computer. Whether you received an XLIFF from a translator, exported it from a CMS or downloaded it from a localisation platform, XLIFF Explorer will open it.
Source and translation side by side
Each translation unit is displayed in a two-column table: source text on the left, target text on the right. This makes it straightforward to review translations, spot missing segments and compare the original content with its translated version at a glance.
For files that contain metadata such as segment IDs, states or notes, XLIFF Explorer preserves and displays that information alongside the text. Reviewers, project managers and clients can all use the same view to verify that every segment has been translated and that nothing was lost in the exchange.
Automatic language detection
XLIFF Explorer reads the source and target language codes embedded in the file and displays them clearly at the top of the results. You immediately know which language pair the file covers, without needing to open the raw XML or guess from the content.
This is especially useful when working with multiple language versions of the same project. Instead of opening each file in a CAT tool to check which language it contains, you can quickly verify the pair in XLIFF Explorer and organise your deliverables accordingly.
Word and segment count
As soon as a file is loaded, XLIFF Explorer calculates the total number of segments and the word count for both source and target content. These figures are displayed at the top of the page, giving you an instant overview of the file's scope.
Word counts are essential for quoting, invoicing and progress tracking in translation projects. With XLIFF Explorer, you can verify counts independently of the CAT tool that produced the file. This is particularly valuable for project managers who need a quick sanity check or for clients who want to confirm the volume before approving an invoice.
Export to CSV for spreadsheets and reports
Need to share the translation data with someone who does not use CAT tools? XLIFF Explorer lets you export the entire file content as a CSV with one click. The exported file includes segment IDs, source text, target text and any available metadata, ready to open in Excel, Google Sheets or any spreadsheet application.
This feature is useful for quality reviews, client approvals, terminology extraction and archiving. Instead of asking everyone involved in a project to install specialised software, you can distribute a simple spreadsheet that anyone can read, comment on and filter.
Privacy and security
XLIFF Explorer processes files entirely in your browser. Your documents are not uploaded to any server, not stored anywhere and not accessible to anyone other than you. Once you close or refresh the page, the data is gone.
This client-side approach means that even files containing confidential content, proprietary terminology or personal data can be viewed safely. There are no privacy concerns because no data ever leaves your device. M21Global built this tool with the same security principles that govern all its professional translation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
XLIFF stands for XML Localisation Interchange File Format. It is an open standard maintained by OASIS that defines a common format for exchanging translation data between different tools and systems. An XLIFF file contains pairs of source and target text segments, along with metadata such as language codes, segment states and translator notes. It is the most widely used format for transferring content between content management systems, CAT tools and language service providers.
CAT tools are designed for translators working inside the tool. But many people who handle XLIFF files are not translators: project managers checking deliverables, clients reviewing translations, developers verifying exports from a CMS, or quality managers running spot checks. XLIFF Explorer gives all of these users a fast, free way to inspect the file without installing anything or learning a new application. It is also handy for quick checks when you are away from your main workstation.
Go to M21Global's XLIFF Explorer page, drag and drop your .xliff or .xlf file onto the upload area (or click to browse), and the tool will parse and display the content immediately. You can then review the segments, check word counts and export to CSV if needed. The entire process takes a few seconds.
Yes. XLIFF Explorer supports both XLIFF 1.2 and XLIFF 2.0, which covers the output of virtually every major CAT tool on the market, including SDL Trados, memoQ, Memsource (Phrase), Smartling, Crowdin, XTM and Lokalise. If your tool exports a valid .xliff or .xlf file, XLIFF Explorer will read it.
XLIFF files are XML-based, so opening them directly in Word will display raw markup that is difficult to read. Excel can sometimes parse the XML, but the result is usually a mess of tags and attributes rather than a clean table of source and target text. XLIFF Explorer extracts the translation units and presents them in a readable format. If you need the data in a spreadsheet, use the CSV export feature to get a clean, structured file that opens perfectly in Excel or Google Sheets.
Completely. XLIFF Explorer runs entirely in your browser. Your file is parsed locally on your device using JavaScript and is never uploaded to a server. No data is transmitted, stored or logged. When you close the browser tab, the data disappears. This makes it safe to use with confidential documents, proprietary content or files containing personal information.
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