CSV Tools
CSV Encoding Converter
Detect common CSV encodings and convert to verified UTF-8 locally in your browser.
Upload your CSV
Drag and drop your CSV file here
or
Encoding diagnosis needs the original file bytes, so paste input is intentionally not available here.
Processed locally in your browser. Your CSV is not uploaded.
Choose a CSV file to identify its source encoding.
How it works
Three careful steps
- 1Choose the original CSV file
Encoding diagnosis needs its original bytes, so this tool is purpose-built for files.
- 2Review the source encoding
Prontivo detects common encodings and asks you to confirm when the bytes are uncertain.
- 3Download verified UTF-8
The converted CSV is reparsed before download to preserve its structure.
The basics
What is CSV encoding?
Encoding describes how a file stores characters as bytes. A CSV can have the same rows and delimiters but still display incorrectly if the receiving app expects another encoding.
Garbled text is a clue
Characters that appear garbled or replacement symbols can indicate a previous decoding mismatch. Prontivo warns rather than silently repairing source data.
Common formats
UTF-8, BOM, Windows-1252, and Excel exports
UTF-8 is widely compatible. A UTF-8 BOM can help some spreadsheet workflows, while older Windows exports may use Windows-1252. UTF-16 files are also handled when their byte structure is clear.
When detection is uncertain
You stay in control.
No source encoding is guessed when the bytes are ambiguous. Select the encoding used by the exporting system and Prontivo rechecks the original file before conversion.
FAQ
Common questions
Is my CSV uploaded?
No. The file is processed locally in your browser.
Why is paste input unavailable?
Pasting loses the original byte sequence needed for reliable encoding diagnosis.
Should I choose UTF-8 with BOM?
Choose it only when the receiving program specifically expects a UTF-8 BOM; otherwise standard UTF-8 is the default.
Will this repair garbled data?
No. It converts the selected source encoding and flags suspicious text instead of guessing how to alter it.