What happens when you convert TXT to CSV
- Each line of the text becomes a row. If the text has tabs, as text copied out of a spreadsheet or saved as tab-separated values does, they split each line into cells; otherwise each whole line goes into column A.
- If your text already has commas between its values, it is a CSV already: renaming the .txt file to .csv is all it needs.
- The file is read by SheetJS running in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to convert TXT to CSV online
- Press "Choose TXT files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to CSV". The spreadsheet library, about 900 KB, loads the first time and then workbooks convert in a moment.
- Save each CSV with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert TXT to CSV?
TXT files usually come from notes, logs, extracted text and anything that must open everywhere. People convert them to CSV because CSV imports into every database, CRM, email tool and spreadsheet without fuss.
In short, TXT is good at what it was made for, and CSV is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. TXT opens in every browser, text editor and phone, while CSV opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor.
How to convert TXT to CSV on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your TXT files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each CSV is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the TXT files from Finder onto the drop zone and the CSV files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose TXT files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted CSV appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose TXT files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The CSV is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for TXT to CSV
There are no settings: every line becomes a row, split into cells at tabs when the text has them. Save the text as UTF-8 if you can; accented letters and other alphabets are then kept exactly.
If the columns should be split at commas or semicolons instead, convert anyway and use Text to Columns on column A in your spreadsheet program, which lets you pick the separator.
TXT vs CSV: the differences
| TXT | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Plain text | Comma-separated values |
| Type | document | spreadsheet |
| Created by | no single author | no single author; standardised in RFC 4180 |
| First released | 1963 | 1972 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | characters only, with no formatting | one table of plain text values, one row per line |
| In a browser | opens in every browser, text editor and phone | opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor |
| Common uses | notes, logs, extracted text and anything that must open everywhere | data exports, imports into databases and exchanging tables between programs |
| MIME type | text/plain | text/csv |
About TXT and CSV files
What is a TXT file?
A TXT file holds nothing but characters: no fonts, images or layout. Modern text files are usually UTF-8, which covers every language.
What is a CSV file?
A CSV file holds a single table as plain text, with commas between values. It has no formatting, formulas or multiple sheets, which is exactly why every program can read it.
TXT to CSV not working? Common problems
- Everything is in column A. The text has no tabs between its values; use Text to Columns in your spreadsheet program to split them at commas or spaces.
- Accented letters look wrong. Save the text as UTF-8 in your editor and convert it again.
- Numbers with a comma as the decimal sign stay text. Replace the commas with points first, or change them in the spreadsheet with Find and Replace.
Convert TXT to CSV from the command line
LibreOffice Calc reads tab-separated text and saves it as a spreadsheet from the command line:
soffice --headless --infilter="Text - txt - csv (StarCalc):9,34,76" --convert-to "csv:Text - txt - csv (StarCalc):44,34,76" input.txtThe converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
TXT to CSV converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting TXT to CSV?
No. Every line and value is kept exactly; only the layout into rows and cells is new.
Why is the CSV a different size from the TXT?
About the same size as the text: a CSV adds only commas and quotes.
Are my TXT files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using the open-source SheetJS library, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several TXT files to CSV at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a CSV file?
CSV opens in every spreadsheet program and any text editor. CSV is common for data exports, imports into databases and exchanging tables between programs.
Is this TXT to CSV converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert TXT to CSV on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.