Why Won't My CSV Import?
A CSV usually fails to import because its structure or text encoding does not match what the destination expects.
Start by checking row widths, quoting, delimiter, encoding, and headers. Do not resave the file blindly in Excel: first identify the exact rows or characters causing the failure, then make only deterministic changes.
Open the CSV Checker & FixerThe most common CSV import errors
Uneven rows are the leading structural problem: one record contains more or fewer fields than the header. Broken quoting can create the same symptom by turning a delimiter or line break into part of the wrong cell.
Imports also fail when the file uses semicolons or tabs but the destination expects commas, when headings are blank or repeated, or when the file exceeds a row or size limit.
Why a CSV can look fine in Excel
Spreadsheet software often guesses the encoding, delimiter, and data types while opening a file. That forgiving preview can hide a problem that a strict database or commerce importer rejects.
Open the file with a CSV-aware checker and compare the reported row numbers with the destination's import log.
Fix structure before content
Resolve unclosed quotes and uneven rows before trimming spaces or removing duplicates. Structural ambiguity changes how every later cell is interpreted.
Safe cleanup should never invent missing values or choose a meaning for ambiguous text. Keep the original file and download a new copy after reviewing the preview.
How to fix it safely
- Upload the file to CSV Checker & Fixer.
- Open every Review item and inspect the affected row numbers.
- Apply only the safe fixes you understand.
- Download a new copy and retry the destination import.