Complete Guide on How to Repair CSV File & Recover Its Data?

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files are mainly used for data storage and transfer. However, they can occasionally get corrupted and encounter errors, leading to data inconsistencies. In this blog, I will discuss how to repair CSV files and recover CSV files with ease.

Let’s get started…

What Are the Causes of CSV File Corruption?

Many factors include utilizing invalid characters, line breaks within fields, and others. Here check out some of the common ones:

1. Commonly due to invalid CSV file format
2. Due to the ASCII control non-printer characters such as CR or LF at the end of the line.
3. In the fields, line breaks are given without enclosing double quotes.
4. Utilizing invalid characters such as hyphens, Asterisks, parentheses, colon, and others.
5. Due to long numbers with leading zeros.
6. When the CSV file is without UTS 8 encoding.

Can I Fix CSV Files?

Yes, you can fix CSV files with less effort. This can be easily done by using Text to Columns, changing the delimiter in the CSV file, and other workable solutions outlined in the next section.

Yet you can go for the Excel Repair Software for the best resolution.

Solutions to Repair CSV File

Well, to fix Excel CSV file corruption you need to follow different solutions given here, so start following them one by one:

Method 1- Use “Text to Columns” Feature

The very first solution you can try is using Excel’s Text to Columns feature. If your .csv file has merged cells that are not properly divided, then you can use this feature to fix it.

Follow the below steps carefully to divide the cells:

• Select the data >> navigate to Data tab >> click Text to Columns in the Data Tools group.

• Choose Delimited option from a Wizard >> hit Next.

• After this, choose a Comma as a delimiter >> hit Next.
• Finally, set the endpoint for a separated data >> click Finish.

Also Read: How To Repair Excel Files (XLS, XLSX, XLT, XLS, XLSM, XLSX)?

Method 2- Try Some Specific Solutions

Check some of the possible solutions that work for you to repair corrupted CSV file.

• Check whether you are getting the import error message “line 1 has too many columns…”, then create a new CSV file with data in 14 columns using Excel, Notepad++, or other apps for recovering CSV data
• If getting the foreign characters missing or corrupted error message then utilize Google Sheets, or Open Office, Libre Office, Notepad++ advanced apps to fix corrupted CSV files.

Check if you are getting the issue because if utilizing ASCII control or extra delimiters characters, then follow the below tricks:

• Check and delete spaces at the end of the file.
• From corrupted CSV files fix extra commas by deleting extra delimiter characters that separate handler fields and recover file data.

Method 3- Use Unicode UTF-8 Encoding

The next thing you should do is to check whether your CSV file is in UTF -8 encoding or not.

Follow the steps to make your CSV file UTF -8 encoding:

• Open your CSV file > click File > Save As
• Type the file name > and from the drop-down choose Save as File Type CSV.

• Click Tools > Go to Web options

• Then go to Encoding under Save this document as
• And select Unicode (UTF-8)

Method 4- Change Delimiter

Changing the delimiter in the CSV can even help you to repair CSV file. Sometimes, the incorrect delimiter can trigger formatting problems.

If you want to adjust the delimiter manually, follow these steps:

• Open the CSV file in Notepad.
• Verify if commas isolated the data (,) or semicolons (;). As for instance, your data looks like: Name, Age, and Country.
• Now, add the below line at the top of your file:

For commas: sep=,

For semicolons: sep=;

• Finally, press the CTRL+S keys together to save your file.

Best Software To Fix & Recover Corrupt CSV File

It is recommended to make use of the MS Excel Repair Tool, this is the best tool to repair all sorts of issues, corruption, and errors in Excel workbooks. This is the best tool that just by scanning once detects and fixes various errors in Excel files and repairs and recovers damaged, corrupted, or even inaccessible Excel files as well.

It is a unique tool to repairs multiple Excel files at one repair cycle and recovers the entire data in a preferred location. It is easy to use and compatible with both Windows as well as Mac operating systems.

Try Now       Buy Now

* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

Steps to Utilize MS Excel Repair Tool:

Also Read: How To Fix XML Errors In Excel?

How to Recover Deleted CSV Files?

Way 1: Recover Using Autorecover Feature

You can make use of the Microsoft Excel Autorecover feature to repair the corrupted CSV file. To make use of it open the spreadsheet and check for the AutoRecover Window > here check the screen that has a list and from here choose the desired file.

But first, you need to assure AutoRecover feature is enable state.

Way 2: Recover CSV file using TMP File

Commonly the Windows system creates a Temporary file, and this helps you to recover lost CSV file.

Follow the steps to do so:

• Go to the Temp file folder : C://Users/AppData/Local/MicrosoftOffice/UnsavedFiles
• Now search the Excel file with the.TMP extension
• Choose the exact one by verifying data
• Lastly, copy and paste or save it to a different destination using .CSV extension.

Hope this works for you to fix CSV file corruption.

Way 3: Recover from a Previous Version

This solution is helpful when the CSV files are saved or replaced.

Follow the steps to do so:

• Open the corrupted CSV file and right-click on it
• Choose Properties > click Previous Versions
• Now select the last version before save/replace
• And click Restore (make sure restore points are enabled)

Related FAQs:

What is CSV File?

CSV (Comma Separated Values) is file format used for storing alphanumeric tabular structure data in plain text format. These files contain data records and each file is a collection of two or more fields separated by commas.

Is It Possible to Recover A CSV File?

Yes, you can recover a CSV file easily, but it is difficult to recover corrupted, overwritten, or replaced CSV files.

Does CSV Remove Formatting?

CSV will not hold data formatting.

Can CSV Format Be Edited?

Yes, a CSV file can be created or edited in Excel.

Why Is My CSV File Not Being Read?

It might be possible that your CSV file is too large so you are unable to read it.

What Tool Fixes CSV File?

Google Sheets, OpenOffice, Notepad++, LibreOffice, etc. can fix the CSV file.

Closure

So, this is all about how to fix corrupted CSV file. Follow the five tested solutions to repair CSV file and recover the data stored in it. Try the given solutions one by one. However, sometimes the manual solutions fail to rebuild data from the CSV file. In such a case, you can go for an automatic solution.

Apart from that, it is very important to handle the Excel file properly and back up your important data to avoid data loss situations.

That’s it…