---
title: "File formats"
description: "One guide per file format or family: what AI Glot translates, what it leaves alone, the size ceiling and example instructions you can copy and adapt."
canonical: "https://ai-glot.com/docs/formats"
updated: "2026-10-12"
---

# File formats

AI Glot translates more than 35 file formats, and each one has its own rules. A Word document keeps its styles, a subtitle file keeps its timecodes, a gettext catalog keeps its plural forms. These guides explain what happens to your file, what to know before you upload it, and which instructions work well for it.

For the complete table of extensions and ceilings, see [Files and formats](/docs/platform/files-and-formats). For the workflow itself, see [Translate a file](/docs/platform/translate-a-file).

> **Tip: Try it free**
>
> Every format has a free tool on the AI Glot website. Drop a file of up to 2 MB on it, with no account, five files a day. The app, the API and the CLI take the full ceiling listed below.

## How instructions work

You describe what you want in plain language and AI Glot reads the file, then shows a plan: what it will translate, what it will leave alone and what it will cost. Nothing is charged until you approve. Two things apply to every format:

- **One target language per upload for most formats.** Word, PowerPoint, OpenDocument (including spreadsheets), PDF, EPUB, InDesign, HTML, Markdown, plain text, subtitles, XLIFF, gettext, Android, iOS strings, Java properties, INI, Fluent, PHP, .NET, Qt and generic XML each hold one language. If you ask for two, the plan translates one and says so. Run the file once for each language: your glossary carries over.
- **Several languages in one job** work for CSV, TSV, Excel, JSON, ARB, resjson, JSON Lines, TOML and Xcode String Catalogs. YAML takes several languages when the file already has a section for each one.

## Documents

| Guide                                      | Formats                                        |     Ceiling |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------: |
| [Word](/docs/formats/word)                 | `.docx`, `.dotx`, `.docm`                      |       25 MB |
| [PowerPoint](/docs/formats/powerpoint)     | `.pptx`, `.potx`, `.ppsx`, `.pptm`             |       30 MB |
| [OpenDocument](/docs/formats/opendocument) | `.odt` (25 MB), `.odp` (30 MB), `.ods` (20 MB) | 20 to 30 MB |
| [PDF](/docs/formats/pdf)                   | `.pdf` with real text                          |       25 MB |
| [EPUB](/docs/formats/epub)                 | `.epub`                                        |       25 MB |
| [InDesign](/docs/formats/indesign)         | `.idml`                                        |       30 MB |
| [HTML](/docs/formats/html)                 | `.html`, `.htm`, `.xhtml`                      |        8 MB |
| [Markdown](/docs/formats/markdown)         | `.md`, `.markdown`, `.mdx`                     |        4 MB |
| [Plain text](/docs/formats/plain-text)     | `.txt`                                         |        4 MB |

## Spreadsheets

| Guide                            | Formats                            | Ceiling |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------: |
| [CSV and TSV](/docs/formats/csv) | `.csv`, `.tsv`                     |   60 MB |
| [Excel](/docs/formats/excel)     | `.xlsx`, `.xlsm`, `.xltx`, `.xltm` |   50 MB |

OpenDocument spreadsheets (`.ods`, 20 MB) are covered in the [OpenDocument](/docs/formats/opendocument) guide.

## Subtitles and lyrics

| Guide                                | Formats                                                          |              Ceiling |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------: |
| [Subtitles](/docs/formats/subtitles) | `.srt`, `.vtt`, `.sbv`, `.ass`, `.ssa`, `.ttml`, `.dfxp`, `.lrc` | 4 MB (8 MB for TTML) |

## App and software localization

| Guide                                                                | Formats                                                                |    Ceiling |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------: |
| [JSON, ARB and JSON Lines](/docs/formats/json)                       | `.json`, `.arb`, `.resjson`, `.jsonl`, `.ndjson`                       |       8 MB |
| [YAML and TOML](/docs/formats/yaml-and-toml)                         | `.yaml`, `.yml`, `.toml`                                               |       4 MB |
| [Android and Apple strings](/docs/formats/android-and-apple-strings) | Android `.xml`, `.strings`, `.stringsdict` (4 MB), `.xcstrings` (8 MB) | 4 to 12 MB |
| [gettext PO](/docs/formats/gettext-po)                               | `.po`, `.pot`                                                          |       4 MB |
| [XLIFF and CAT tools](/docs/formats/xliff-and-cat-tools)             | `.xlf`, `.xliff`, `.sdlxliff`, `.mqxliff`, `.mxliff`                   |      12 MB |
| [.NET and Qt](/docs/formats/dotnet-and-qt)                           | `.resx`, `.resw`, Qt Linguist `.ts`                                    |      12 MB |
| [Java, INI, Fluent and PHP](/docs/formats/java-ini-fluent-php)       | `.properties`, `.ini`, `.isl`, `.lang`, `.ftl`, `.php`                 |       4 MB |
| [Other XML](/docs/formats/xml)                                       | `.xml`, `.svg`, `.dita`, `.ditamap`                                    |      12 MB |

## Archives

| Guide                    | Formats                                        | Ceiling |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- | ------: |
| [ZIP](/docs/formats/zip) | `.zip` of files of one format, up to 200 files |   20 MB |

## Not on the list?

Some formats are refused with a message that says what to send instead, such as `.doc`, `.xls`, `.ppt`, `.indd`, `.mo` or `.mobi`. They are listed in [Files and formats](/docs/platform/files-and-formats#not-supported). In the app, a refused format shows a **Request this format** button.