Import CSV into Excel on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

To import a CSV into Excel on a Mac, open Excel and choose Data > Get Data (Power Query) > From Text/CSV, select the file, check the preview and delimiter, then choose Load. If you only need to view the file, you can also open it directly with File > Open. Check the imported dates, number formats, and any codes with leading zeros before relying on the data.

What You’ll Need

A Mac with Microsoft Excel installed. The Power Query import route is available in supported Microsoft 365 versions of Excel for Mac; menu labels and availability can differ in older releases.
The CSV file saved somewhere you can find it, such as Downloads, Documents, or iCloud Drive. CSV means comma-separated values, though some files use another delimiter.
A destination workbook if you want to add the imported data to an existing Excel file. Save a copy of that workbook first if it contains important information.
Optional: a text editor, such as TextEdit set to plain text, if you need to inspect the CSV’s raw characters or delimiters.

Step-by-Step

Locate the CSV and decide how you want to use it. If you want the CSV to become a separate workbook, opening it directly is quickest. If you need the records added to a workbook that is already open, use the import route below. Consider the data before importing: product codes such as 00381, long account numbers, and values containing dates may be changed if Excel interprets them as numbers or dates.
Open the destination workbook in Excel. For an existing workbook, open it before importing and select the worksheet and cell where the data should start. Leave enough blank space for the imported rows and columns; loading a table over occupied cells can fail or create a confusing layout. If you are creating a new workbook, choose File > New Workbook.
Start the CSV import. In Excel for Mac, open the Data tab and look for Get Data (Power Query), then choose From Text/CSV. In some Microsoft 365 builds the command appears as From Text/CSV directly on the Data tab or under Get Data. Choose the CSV in the file picker and select Get Data or Import, depending on the label shown. If the command is missing, see Troubleshooting below and use File > Open as a fallback.
Check the import preview before loading. Excel displays a preview of the file. Confirm that the first row contains the expected column headings and that each field appears in its own column. If a whole row appears in one column, the selected delimiter is likely wrong. If accented letters or symbols look incorrect, check the file origin or encoding options, if offered, before continuing.
Choose the correct delimiter. A delimiter marks where one field ends and another begins. Comma is common, but CSV files exported from some regional settings use semicolons; tab-separated files may also be saved with a .csv extension. In the preview, select the delimiter that produces the right columns. If the file has a custom separator, use the available delimiter or formatting options and verify the preview rather than guessing from the filename.
Review how Excel will interpret the columns. Depending on the import screen, you may be able to choose data types or open the data in Power Query to transform it first. Set identifier columns, postal codes, and other values that must retain leading zeros to Text. Check date columns carefully: a value such as 04/05/2025 can mean April 5 or May 4 depending on regional settings. For an ambiguous date column, use the source file’s known date convention and choose an appropriate locale or type in the transformation options if available.
Load the records into the workbook. If the preview is correct, choose Load. If Excel offers a choice of where to load the data, select an existing worksheet and the intended starting cell, or choose a new worksheet for a cleaner layout. In Power Query, you may first choose Transform Data to inspect or adjust columns, then use Close & Load to send the result to Excel. Allow the import to finish before editing the resulting table.
Check the imported result against the source. Compare the header names, first few rows, and a few rows near the bottom with the CSV or its preview. Confirm that the number of columns looks right and that text, dates, decimals, and leading zeros remain correct. Look for blank columns, unexpected split fields, or values that have turned into dates or scientific notation. Correct a problem now rather than building formulas or reports on the wrong data.
Save the result as an Excel workbook. A CSV stores plain text values, not Excel features such as multiple worksheets, formulas, formatting, or table settings. After import, choose File > Save As and save the workbook as an Excel Workbook (.xlsx) if you want to keep the data in Excel format. Keep the original CSV if you may need to re-import or compare the untouched source.

Quick option for a separate workbook: In Excel choose File > Open, browse to the CSV, select it, and open it. You can also use Command+O on a Mac (Ctrl+O on Windows). Excel will usually display the CSV as a worksheet, splitting fields based on its detected delimiter. If the columns or characters are wrong, close the file without saving changes and use the Data import route so you can inspect the preview and settings.

Common Mistakes

Assuming every CSV uses commas. A file can be called a CSV and still use semicolons or tabs. Check the preview and choose the separator that creates the correct columns.
Letting Excel remove leading zeros. Excel may treat 00057 as the number 57. Codes, IDs, and postal codes are usually labels, not quantities, so import those columns as Text when the option is available.
Accepting an incorrect date interpretation. Dates with a day and month both at or below 12 are ambiguous. Verify them against the source system or an unambiguous sample before using them in calculations.
Saving over the original CSV. A CSV cannot keep many Excel workbook features. Save a separate .xlsx copy when you want to preserve a table, formatting, multiple sheets, or formulas.
Ignoring quoted fields. A properly formatted CSV can contain commas inside quotation marks, such as a street address or a note. If a field splits unexpectedly, check the import preview and text-qualifier settings rather than deleting commas from the source.
Importing into occupied cells. Leave clear space for the entire result or load it on a new worksheet. Otherwise, Excel may block the load or you may overwrite existing information.

Tips

Keep a clean source file. Treat the CSV as the original export and do cleanup in Excel or Power Query. This makes it easier to repeat the import and check whether a change came from the source or from your spreadsheet.
Use a new worksheet for unfamiliar data. It gives the imported table room to expand and reduces the chance of replacing content. Once checked, you can move or reference the table as needed.
Inspect file encoding when text looks wrong. Names with accents or non-English characters can display incorrectly if Excel reads the file using an unsuitable encoding. If the import interface offers a file-origin or encoding choice, try the encoding used by the system that created the CSV and check the preview before loading.
Preserve long identifiers as text. Excel can display long digit strings in scientific notation or lose precision when it treats them as numbers. For account references, tracking numbers, and similar identifiers, text is generally safer than numeric data.
Use Power Query for repeat imports. If you regularly receive the same kind of CSV, a saved query can retain transformation choices such as renamed columns or text types. When the source file is updated, use Data > Refresh All if that command is available for the query in your Excel version.
Remember what CSV does not contain. A CSV has rows and fields of text, not workbook styling, formulas, or separate tabs. If someone sends you an .xlsx file renamed as .csv, ask for a proper CSV export or the original Excel workbook instead.

Troubleshooting

The From Text/CSV command is missing. Check that you are using a supported, updated version of Excel for Mac and look under Data > Get Data (Power Query). Power Query features and menu placement vary by release. If the import command is not available, use File > Open to view the CSV, or update Excel through Microsoft AutoUpdate or your organization’s approved software process.
Everything appears in one column. Reopen the import through the Data tab and change the delimiter in the preview. Try comma, semicolon, or tab as appropriate. If you opened the CSV directly, close it and import again with the correct delimiter instead of splitting the column blindly.
Text contains odd symbols or question marks. The file may have been saved in an encoding Excel did not detect. Re-import it and choose a different file origin or encoding if the interface provides that setting. If no setting is offered, ask the source system to export a UTF-8 CSV or inspect a copy in a text editor before changing it.
Dates are reversed or numbers have unexpected decimals. Regional settings can affect how Excel interprets dates and decimal separators. Use the import preview or transformation settings to choose the correct locale and column type. Compare several values with the source before using them in a report.
Leading zeros disappeared. Once Excel has converted a value to a number, formatting the cell as Text afterward will not restore zeros that were discarded. Re-import the original CSV and set the column to Text before loading. If the fixed-width code length is known, you can also ask the data provider for an export that preserves it.
Some rows seem to be missing or shifted. Check the source for inconsistent quotes, embedded line breaks, or a different number of fields on certain rows. Review the Power Query preview and compare the affected records with a plain-text copy. If the CSV itself is malformed, request a fresh export rather than relying on a partial import.
The file will not open. Confirm that it is actually a CSV, that it has finished downloading, and that you have permission to access its folder. Move a copy to Documents and try again. If the extension is misleading or the file is damaged, ask the sender to export it again as comma-separated values.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a CSV into an existing Excel workbook on a Mac?
Yes. Open the workbook, then use Data > Get Data (Power Query) > From Text/CSV if that option is available. Check the preview and load the data to an existing worksheet or a new one.

Is opening a CSV the same as importing it?
Opening a CSV displays its contents in Excel, typically as a separate workbook. Importing through the Data tab lets you check settings and load the result into a workbook that is already open.

How do I stop Excel from removing zeros at the start of a value?
Set the relevant column to Text during import, before loading. This is useful for postal codes, product codes, and IDs that are not meant to be used in arithmetic.

Why does my CSV show all data in one column?
The delimiter may not match the file. Re-import it and select the separator that appears between fields in the preview, such as a comma or semicolon.

Will importing a CSV keep its formatting and formulas?
No. CSV files contain plain data, not Excel formatting, formulas, or multiple worksheets. Save the imported result as an .xlsx workbook if you need Excel features.

Can I undo an import?
You can usually undo a recent load with Command+Z, though this may not reverse every query or file operation. If the result is important, save a copy first; you can also remove the imported worksheet or table and repeat the import from the original CSV.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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