How to Import TXT to Excel: Complete Guide
Learning how to import TXT to Excel is an essential skill for anyone working with data. Whether you're importing reports, logs, or exported data, this guide covers every method and troubleshooting tip you need.
4 Ways to Import TXT to Excel
| Method | Time Required | Best For | |--------|---------------|----------| | AI Online Tool | 30 seconds | Quick imports, messy data | | Excel Import Wizard | 2 minutes | Full control over formatting | | Power Query | 5 minutes setup | Recurring imports | | Copy-Paste | 1 minute | Small datasets |
Method 1: AI Online Import (Fastest)
txt2excel.com automatically detects your data structure.
How to import:
- Copy your TXT file content
- Paste at txt2excel.com
- Click "Convert to Excel"
- Download your XLSX file
Why use this method:
- No delimiter selection needed
- Handles messy data automatically
- Works on any device
- No Excel required
- Completely free
Method 2: Excel Import Wizard (Most Control)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Open Excel
Step 2: Go to Data tab β Get Data β From Text/CSV
Step 3: Browse and select your TXT file
Step 4: Excel shows import preview:
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Original file name: data.txt β
β File origin: 65001: Unicode (UTF-8) β
β Delimiter: Comma β
β Data type detection: Based on first 200 rows β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β βββββββββ¬ββββββββ¬ββββββββ β
β β Name β Age β City β β
β βββββββββΌββββββββΌββββββββ€ β
β β John β 25 β NY β β
β β Jane β 30 β LA β β
β βββββββββ΄ββββββββ΄ββββββββ β
β β
β [Load] [Transform Data] β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Step 5: Verify the preview looks correct
Step 6: Click Load
Your data is now in Excel!
Understanding Delimiters
The most important part of importing TXT files is choosing the right delimiter.
Common Delimiters
| Delimiter | Name | Symbol | Example |
|-----------|------|--------|---------|
| Comma | CSV | , | apple,banana,orange |
| Tab | TSV | | apple banana orange |
| Pipe | PSV | \| | apple\|banana\|orange |
| Semicolon | SCSV | ; | apple;banana;orange |
| Space | SV | | apple banana orange |
How to Know Your Delimiter
Open your TXT file and look at how values are separated:
Name,Age,City β Comma
Name Age City β Tab
Name|Age|City β Pipe
Name;Age;City β Semicolon
Name Age City β Space
Method 3: Power Query (For Recurring Imports)
Perfect if you import the same type of file regularly.
Setting Up a Reusable Import
Step 1: Data β Get Data β From Text/CSV
Step 2: Select your file
Step 3: Instead of "Load", click Transform Data
Step 4: Make your transformations:
- Remove unwanted columns
- Split columns
- Change data types
- Filter rows
- Merge with other data
Step 5: Click Close & Load
Step 6: Save your workbook
Next time you get a new file with the same structure:
- Replace the TXT file
- In Excel, right-click the table β Refresh
- All transformations apply automatically
Method 4: Copy-Paste Import
For quick, one-off imports of small files:
Steps:
- Open TXT file
- Ctrl+A (select all)
- Ctrl+C (copy)
- Open Excel
- Ctrl+V (paste)
If data is in one column:
- Select the column
- Data β Text to Columns
- Choose your delimiter
- Click Finish
Handling Different File Formats
CSV Files
Most TXT files are actually CSV (Comma Separated Values).
Import options:
- Double-click the CSV (opens directly)
- Data β From Text/CSV (more control)
- txt2excel.com (smartest)
Tab-Separated Files
Common from database exports.
Import options:
- Excel detects Tab automatically
- Or manually select "Tab" as delimiter
Pipe-Separated Files
Less common but used in some systems.
Import options:
- Choose "Other" as delimiter
- Type
|in the delimiter box - Or use txt2excel.com (auto-detects)
Fixed-Width Files
Each column has exact character width.
Import method:
- Data β From Text/CSV
- Click "Transform Data"
- Add column by position
- Set fixed widths
Fixing Common Import Issues
Issue 1: Wrong Column Breaks
Symptoms: Data in wrong columns, everything in one column
Solutions:
- Re-import with correct delimiter
- Use "Text to Columns" to fix
- Use txt2excel.com (auto-detects)
Issue 2: Dates Not Recognized
Symptoms: Dates don't sort, format incorrectly
Solutions:
- Check date format consistency
- Select column β Data β Text to Columns
- Choose "Date" as format
- Or use
=DATEVALUE(A1)function
Issue 3: Numbers Stored as Text
Symptoms: Numbers left-aligned, can't calculate
Solutions:
- Select column β Data β Text to Columns β Finish
- Type
1in empty cell β Copy β Paste Special β Multiply - Use
=VALUE(A1)function
Issue 4: Leading Zeros Disappear
Symptoms: 00123 becomes 123
Solutions:
- Import column as "Text" format
- Format cells as Text before importing
- Use apostrophe:
'00123
Issue 5: Special Characters Display Wrong
Symptoms: Chinese characters show as ???
Solutions:
- Save TXT as UTF-8
- Import with "UTF-8" file origin
- Use txt2excel.com (handles encoding)
Importing Multiple TXT Files
Option 1: Folder Import (Power Query)
Steps:
- Put all TXT files in one folder
- Data β Get Data β From File β From Folder
- Select the folder
- Power Query combines all files
- Transform and load
Option 2: Batch Upload Online
Steps:
- Go to txt2excel.com
- Use batch upload feature
- Process multiple files at once
- Download all converted files
Option 3: Python Script (Technical)
import pandas as pd
import os
# Import all TXT files in a folder
for file in os.listdir('folder'):
if file.endswith('.txt'):
df = pd.read_csv(f'folder/{file}')
df.to_excel(f'output/{file}.xlsx')
Best Practices for Clean Imports
Before Import
- Check your delimiter - Open TXT and see what separates values
- Remove extra blank lines - They create empty rows
- Check date formats - Consistent formats import better
- Add headers if missing - First row should be column names
- Fix encoding issues - Save as UTF-8 if needed
During Import
- Preview before loading - Check data looks correct
- Choose right data types - General, Text, or Date
- Set file origin - UTF-8 for international characters
- Skip rows if needed - Remove header rows from exports
After Import
- Verify data - Check first, last, and middle rows
- Test calculations - Ensure numbers work
- Check sorting - Make sure data sorts correctly
- Save as Excel - Don't work directly on import
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I import a TXT file into Excel with columns?
Answer: Use Data β From Text/CSV, select your file, choose the correct delimiter in the preview, and click Load. Excel automatically separates your data into columns.
What's the difference between opening and importing a TXT file?
Answer: Opening uses default settings and may format incorrectly. Importing lets you control delimiters, data types, and formatting for accurate results.
Can I import a TXT file into Excel without changing the format?
Answer: Yes. During import, select "Text" as the column data format instead of "General". This preserves original formatting including leading zeros.
How do I import a large TXT file into Excel?
Answer: For files over 1 million rows, use Power Query which can handle larger datasets, or split the file and import in parts. txt2excel.com also handles large files efficiently.
Why is my imported data all in one column?
Answer: The delimiter wasn't detected correctly. Re-import and manually select the correct delimiter (comma, tab, etc.), or use txt2excel.com which auto-detects delimiters.
Quick Decision Guide
| Your Situation | Best Method | |---------------|-------------| | Just need to get it done fast | txt2excel.com | | Need full control over formatting | Excel Import Wizard | | Import same file type every week | Power Query (save & refresh) | | File has less than 50 rows | Copy-paste | | Don't have Excel installed | txt2excel.com (works in browser) | | Multiple files to process | Power Query (From Folder) or txt2excel.com batch | | Data is messy/inconsistent | txt2excel.com (AI handles it) |
Conclusion
Importing TXT files into Excel is simple once you understand your data structure. For most users, txt2excel.com offers the fastest solution with automatic delimiter detection. For recurring needs, Excel Power Query provides a powerful, reusable workflow.
Choose the method that matches your needs and start importing like a pro!