Excel guesses the wrong encoding for plain CSV files. Save as CSV UTF-8 instead.
Technical note: Excel opens CSV files as ANSI unless told otherwise. Save as CSV UTF-8, or import the file and pick UTF-8 during the import.Reviewed by CoolSymbol.now Editorial · August 2, 2026What you need to know
A CSV file carries no encoding information.
Google Sheets assumes UTF-8 and generally handles symbols correctly.
Even with the encoding right, keep decorative characters out of columns you will sort, match or join on.
See real examples in currency symbols and unit symbols. For the full lesson, read How to Copy and Paste Symbols Safely.
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What Excel does by default
A CSV file carries no encoding information. Excel has to guess, and on Windows it usually guesses the local ANSI code page rather than UTF-8. Anything outside that narrow set arrives as mojibake or question marks.
The file is normally fine. It is the reading step that breaks it.
- Save as "CSV UTF-8" rather than plain CSV
- Or use Data → From Text/CSV and choose UTF-8
- A byte-order mark at the start also helps Excel guess right
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Google Sheets and Numbers
Google Sheets assumes UTF-8 and generally handles symbols correctly. Apple Numbers lets you pick the encoding on import. Both are usually safer than double-clicking a CSV on Windows.
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Symbols to avoid in data
Even with the encoding right, keep decorative characters out of columns you will sort, match or join on. A styled letter is not the letter it looks like, so lookups quietly fail.
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Sources and further reading
This answer was reviewed against current Unicode terminology and the practical guidance below.
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