Numbers (Apple)
Also known as: .numbers file, Apple Numbers spreadsheet, iWork Numbers
A .numbers file is a spreadsheet created in Apple Numbers, the spreadsheet app in Apple’s iWork suite. The format is Apple-only — Windows and Android cannot open it natively — so Numbers exports to Excel, CSV, or PDF for sharing.
- Native spreadsheet format of Apple’s iWork suite
- Apple-only — no native Windows or Android app
- Export to XLSX, CSV, or PDF to share
What a Numbers file is
Numbers is Apple’s free spreadsheet app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with a web version on iCloud.com. A .numbers file is a package bundle holding the tables, formulas, charts, and any embedded media.
Unlike Excel, Numbers arranges free-form tables and objects on a flexible canvas. The format is proprietary to Apple, with no native app on Windows or Android.
Sharing a Numbers spreadsheet
To share with people who do not use Apple devices, choose Share or Export and pick Excel (XLSX) for an editable spreadsheet, CSV for plain tabular data, or PDF for a fixed printout.
Numbers can also open and edit XLSX files, so it works as an Excel alternative on Apple hardware. Complex Excel macros and some functions may not carry over on conversion.