To open a CSV file in Notepad, right-click the file in File Explorer, select Open with, and choose Notepad. You’ll see the raw text of the file, with each value separated by a comma and each record on its own line. To make Notepad the default for every CSV file, go to Settings › Apps › Default apps, search for .csv, and pick Notepad.
This guide covers Notepad on Windows 11 and Windows 10. The default-app steps follow Microsoft’s Change default apps in Windows article. You’ll also find how to open a CSV from inside Notepad, how to edit and save it safely, and what to do when the text looks wrong.
Why open a CSV file in Notepad?
A CSV (comma-separated values) file is plain text. Each row is a record, and commas separate the columns. Excel and Google Sheets turn that text into a grid and may change how numbers, dates, and leading zeros look. Notepad shows exactly what is in the file, including the commas, quotation marks, and blank lines. That makes it useful for checking why a file won’t import, fixing a header row, or making a quick edit.
How to open a CSV file in Notepad with Open with
- Open File Explorer and find the CSV file.
- Right-click the file and select Open with. On Windows 11 you may need to click Show more options first.
- Choose Notepad. If it isn’t listed, select Choose another app and pick Notepad from the list.
Result: the file opens in Notepad as plain text. If long rows are hard to follow, you can turn word wrap on or off in Notepad. Your default app for CSV files doesn’t change.
How to open a CSV file from inside Notepad
- Open Notepad from the Start menu.
- Select File › Open, or press Ctrl + O.
- Change the file type menu next to the file name from Text documents (*.txt) to All files (*.*). CSV files are hidden until you do.
- Select the CSV file and click Open.
Result: the CSV opens in Notepad. You can also drag the file from File Explorer onto an open Notepad window.
How to always open CSV files in Notepad
- Select Start › Settings › Apps › Default apps.
- In the search box, type .csv and select the result.
- Choose Notepad from the list of apps and confirm with Set default if asked.
Result: double-clicking any CSV file opens it in Notepad. To switch back, repeat the steps and choose Excel or another app. Microsoft notes you can set defaults by file type or by app.
How to edit and save a CSV file in Notepad
- Keep one record per line, and press Enter only at the end of a record.
- Separate every value with a comma. If a field is empty, keep its comma so the other columns don’t shift.
- Put quotation marks around any value that contains a comma or a line break.
- Save with Ctrl + S. If you use Save as, make sure the name still ends in .csv, and set Save as type to All files so Notepad doesn’t add .txt.
Result: the file keeps the same structure, so Excel and other programs can still import it.
Troubleshooting
- Accented letters look garbled: the file may use a different text encoding. Open Save as and look at the Encoding menu; UTF-8 is the usual choice for CSV files.
- The file is very large: Notepad can be slow with huge files. A spreadsheet program or a code editor may handle them better.
- Values use semicolons: some programs and regions use semicolons instead of commas. Notepad shows whatever the file uses.
Frequently asked questions
Will opening a CSV in Notepad change the file?
No. Notepad only changes the file if you edit it and save. Opening the file in Excel and saving can change how numbers and dates are stored.
Can I open a CSV in Notepad on a Mac?
Notepad is a Windows app. On a Mac, use TextEdit: right-click the file, choose Open With › TextEdit.
Related: How to open CSV files with Excel by default, How to convert a CSV to pipe delimited in Notepad, and How to show file name extensions in Windows.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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