---
title: "Support Guide: Copying Data from a CSV into Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel"
last_updated: "2026-07-23T07:44:41.083Z"
category: "AI Agent How-tos"
canonical_url: "https://maybeclients.com/h/mash-help-centre/support-guide-copying-data-from-a-csv-into-google-sheets-or-microsoft-excel"
help_centre: "MaSH! Help Centre"
---

# Support Guide: Copying Data from a CSV into Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files are a simple text format used to store tabular data. Unlike Excel workbooks (.xlsx) or Google Sheets, CSV files do not contain any formatting information such as fonts, colours, column widths, formulas, or multiple worksheets.

When you copy data directly from a CSV file and paste it into Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, you may find that all of the data appears in a single column instead of being separated into individual columns. This article explains why this happens and how to fix it.

---

# Why does everything paste into one column?

A CSV file stores data as plain text, with each value separated by a delimiter (most commonly a comma, but sometimes a semicolon or tab).

When you copy and paste from a CSV file:

- The formatting is not copied because CSV files only store plain text.
- Your spreadsheet application may not automatically recognise the commas (or other delimiters) as column separators.
- As a result, the entire line is pasted into a single column.
For example, this CSV data:

```Plain Text
Name,Department,Location
John Smith,Sales,London
Jane Doe,Finance,Manchester
```

may initially appear like this after pasting:

A

---

Name,Department,Location

---

John Smith,Sales,London

---

Jane Doe,Finance,Manchester

---

This is expected behaviour and can be corrected using Split text to columns (Google Sheets) or Text to Columns (Excel).

---

# Google Sheets

## Option 1 – Paste directly

1. Open your Google Sheet.
1. Select the cell where you want the data to begin.
1. Paste the copied CSV data (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V).
If everything appears in a single column, continue with the steps below.

## Split text into columns

1. Highlight the column containing the pasted data.
1. Select Data from the menu.
1. Click Split text to columns.
1. A separator menu will appear at the bottom of the sheet.
1. Choose the correct separator:
  - Comma (most common)
  - Semicolon
  - Tab
  - Space
  - Custom (if your file uses another character)
Google Sheets will immediately separate the values into individual columns.

### Before

A

---

John Smith,Sales,London

---

### After

| A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| John Smith | Sales | London |

---

# Microsoft Excel

## Option 1 – Paste directly

1. Open Excel.
1. Select the starting cell.
1. Paste the copied CSV data.
If all the information appears in Column A, use Text to Columns.

## Use Text to Columns

1. Select the column containing the pasted data.
1. Go to the Data tab.
1. Select Text to Columns.
1. Choose Delimited and click Next.
1. Tick the delimiter used by your CSV file:
  - Comma (most common)
  - Semicolon
  - Tab
  - Other
1. Click Finish.
Excel will split the data into separate columns.

---

# Why doesn't the formatting come across?

CSV files only contain the raw data and separators between values.

They do not save:

- Cell colours
- Fonts
- Bold or italic text
- Column widths
- Formulas
- Filters
- Charts
- Multiple worksheets
- Cell borders
If you need to preserve formatting, use an Excel Workbook (.xlsx) or a Google Sheets document instead of a CSV file.

---

# Troubleshooting

### My data is still in one column

Check that you selected the correct delimiter. Most CSV files use commas, but some use semicolons or tabs.

### My columns don't line up correctly

The file may use a different delimiter than expected. Try another separator when using Split text to columns (Google Sheets) or Text to Columns (Excel).

### Some values are split incorrectly

If your data contains commas within text (for example, addresses), the CSV should use quotation marks around those values. If the CSV was created incorrectly, the data may need to be regenerated before importing.

---

# Best Practice

Whenever possible:

- Open the CSV directly in Excel or import it into Google Sheets instead of copying and pasting.
- If you do need to copy and paste, use Split text to columns (Google Sheets) or Text to Columns (Excel) to separate the data correctly.
- Remember that CSV files are intended for transferring data, not preserving spreadsheet formatting.