How to Convert Excel (XLSX) to CSV UTF-8 Without Losing Data
Most import tools — Mailchimp, Shopify, Google Contacts, CRMs — want a UTF-8 CSV, but Excel's default "Save As CSV" doesn't reliably produce one. Pick the wrong option and accented names get corrupted, leading zeros vanish, and your import fails. Here's how to convert an XLSX to a clean UTF-8 CSV the right way.
Method 1: Save As CSV UTF-8 (Excel 2016+)
On the File tab, choose Save As. In the "Save as type" dropdown, select "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (.csv)" — not the plain "CSV (Comma delimited)" option, which saves in your system's local encoding and is the usual cause of corrupted characters. This option exists in Excel 2016 and later.
Excel will warn that features like formulas, charts, and multiple sheets can't be saved in CSV. That's expected: CSV is plain text and only keeps the values on the active sheet. Click Yes to continue.
Method 2: Google Sheets (Any Excel Version)
If you're on an older Excel without the UTF-8 option, upload the workbook to Google Sheets (File > Import), then use File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv). Google Sheets always exports UTF-8, so accents and Unicode survive intact.
Watch Out for These Data-Loss Traps
Leading Zeros Disappear
Zip codes like 02134, SKUs like 00451, and phone numbers get treated as numbers, so Excel strips the leading zero and "02134" becomes "2134". Format those columns as Text before exporting, or the zeros are gone for good once you save.
Long Numbers Turn Into Scientific Notation
Long IDs, credit-card-length numbers, and barcodes can be rewritten as something like 1.23457E+12. Once Excel converts them, the original digits are lost. Format the column as Text first to preserve the full value.
Dates Get Reformatted
Excel displays dates according to your locale, and that displayed format is what lands in the CSV. A column that looks like 15/03/2026 in one region and 03/15/2026 in another will export differently. Decide on a target format (ISO 8601, YYYY-MM-DD, is safest) before exporting.
Quick Checklist Before You Export
Confirm each of these to avoid a corrupted CSV:
- Format zip/SKU/ID columns as Text to keep leading zeros
- Format long-number columns as Text to avoid scientific notation
- Settle on one date format across the sheet
- Choose "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)" as the save type
- Open the result in a text editor to confirm accents look right
The Faster Way: Reliable Conversion Every Time
PipeSheets reads your XLSX directly and exports a standards-compliant UTF-8 CSV, preserving leading zeros and long IDs as text instead of mangling them into numbers. Upload the workbook, choose CSV output, and download a clean file that imports anywhere on the first try.
Try the automated solution
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