How to import a CSV file into Google Sheets
Learn how to import a CSV file into Google Sheets using the File menu, choose the right separator, and fix common formatting issues.
Quick answer
Open a new or existing Google Sheets file, click File in the top toolbar, then select Import. Choose Upload, select your CSV file from your computer or Google Drive, pick an import location such as a new sheet, choose comma as the separator type, and click Import data to finish.
Steps at a glance
- Open Google Sheets and create or open a spreadsheet
- Click File, then select Import from the menu
- Click Upload and choose your CSV file
- Pick an import location like a new sheet
- Select comma as the separator type
- Click Import data to load the file
- Review columns and adjust formatting as needed
Summary
Google Sheets includes a built-in Import feature that reads CSV files and places each value into its own cell automatically. This saves you from manually copying and pasting raw text, and it works with files stored on your computer, Google Drive, or a public URL.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Open or create a spreadsheet
Go to Google Sheets and open the spreadsheet you want to import data into, or click Blank to start a new one. You can import into an existing sheet or create a fresh sheet just for the CSV data.
Step 2
Open the Import menu
Click File in the top toolbar, then select Import from the dropdown menu. The Import file window opens, showing tabs for My Drive, Shared with me, Recent, and Upload.
Step 3
Upload your CSV file
Click the Upload tab, then either drag your CSV file into the window or click Browse to select it from your computer. If the file is already saved in Drive, use the My Drive tab instead and pick it from your folders.
Step 4
Choose the import location
Select where the data should go: Create new spreadsheet, Insert new sheet(s), Replace spreadsheet, Replace current sheet, Append to current sheet, or Replace data starting at selected cell. Choosing Insert new sheet(s) keeps your existing data untouched, which pairs well if you already have tabs organized with a /guides/google-sheets/freeze-rows setup for headers.
Step 5
Set the separator type
Under Separator type, leave it on Detect automatically or manually choose Comma if your file uses commas to divide values. Google Sheets shows a preview of how the data will split into columns before you confirm.
Step 6
Click Import data
Click the Import data button to load the CSV into your spreadsheet. Google Sheets processes the file and places each value into its own row and column based on the separator you selected.
Step 7
Review and clean up the imported data
Scroll through the new sheet to confirm headers, numbers, and dates imported correctly, and widen columns if text looks cut off. From here you can sort or filter the data using /guides/google-sheets/create-a-filter, or build a chart to visualize the numbers.
Why this matters
You've just exported customer data, sales records, or survey results as a CSV from another app, and now you need it in a live spreadsheet you can share, filter, and chart. Importing correctly keeps every column intact instead of dumping everything into a single messy cell.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import a CSV file straight from Google Drive?
Yes. In the Import file window, click the My Drive tab instead of Upload, then browse to and select the CSV file already stored in your Drive.
What's the difference between importing and opening a CSV file?
Importing adds CSV data into an existing spreadsheet you choose, while opening a CSV creates a brand-new standalone spreadsheet from that file. See the guide on how to open a CSV file for that alternate approach.
Can I import more than one CSV file at a time?
The Import dialog only accepts one file per import action, so you'll need to repeat the File > Import steps separately for each additional CSV file.
Will importing a CSV overwrite my existing spreadsheet data?
Only if you choose Replace spreadsheet or Replace current sheet as the import location. Selecting Insert new sheet(s) or Append to current sheet keeps your existing data safe.
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