The IMPORTTEXT and IMPORTCSV Excel functions

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Import text files with Excel functions
You've always been able to import text files into an Excel workbook using one of a variety of data import tools. Now, you can write simple formulas to do the same thing using Excel's new IMPORTTEXT and IMPORTCSV functions! This blog provides a quick overview of how they work.

Posted by Andrew Gould on 03 February 2026

In this blog

The sample data
The IMPORTCSV function
Controlling the number of rows returned
Using different delimiters
Other ideas

If you're fed up of using a data import wizard to import text files into Excel, rejoice! For there are now two functions you can use to import data by writing simple formulas. This blog explains how to use the IMPORTTEXT and IMPORTCSV functions,

At the time of writing, in order to access these functions, your copy of Excel must be on the Beta channel running Windows Version 2502 (Build 18604.20002) or later .

The sample data

To demonstrate how to import data using functions we'll use two sample files containing a list of the top 50 highest grossing films of all time. One version of the data is stored in a tab-delimited text (txt) file, the other is in a comma-separated value (csv) file.

A text file and csv file in a Windows folder

Our two files have the same name with different extensions.

In the txt file, the values are separated by tab spaces:

Data in a text documented separated by tab spaces.

The top two films in the txt file.

In the csv file, the values are separate by commas:

Data in a text file with values separated by commas.

The same data in the csv file.

The IMPORTCSV function

As its name suggests, the IMPORTCSV function is used to import data from a csv file. Here's the syntax of the function (parameters listed in square brackets are optional):

IMPORTCSV( Path, [Skip_rows], [Take_rows], [Locale] )

The only thing we need to provide is the path to the file whose contents we want to import.

Using the IMPORTCSV function in Microsoft Excel to import data from a csv file.

You can use a local path or a URL, entered as a string within double-quotes.

When you commit the formula, Excel will take a short time to think about things before outputting the contents of the file in a spilled array.

Results of using the IMPORTCSV filein Microsoft Excel to import data from a csv file into a spilled array

The results of the formula.

You'll get an error if you enter an invalid file path:

An error caused by passing an invalid file path into the IMPORTCSV function in Microsoft Excel

Here I've used the wrong file name, calling it Movies instead of Films.

Controlling the number of rows returned

You can use the Skip_rows parameter to ignore rows at the start of the file. In the example below, I've excluded the column headings by passing the value of 1 to the Skip_rows parameter.

Skipping rows in the IMPORTCSV function in Microsoft Excel

This time, we don't get the column headers.

You can use negative numbers to exclude rows at the bottom of the file.

You can use the Take_rows parameter to choose how many rows you want to return. In the example below I've returned the header row and the top five films by setting the Take_rows parameter to 6.

Using the take_rows parameter in the IMPORTCSV function in Microsoft Excel

We get the top 6 rows, including the column headers.

You can combine skipping rows and taking rows, as shown in the example below:

Using the skip rows and take rows parameter of the IMPORTCSV function in Microsoft Excel

I've skipped the top row and then taken the next 5 rows.

You can use a negative number for the Take_rows parameter to get rows from the bottom of the list.

Using different delimiters

The IMPORTCSV function is perfect when your data is separated by commas but for any other delimiters you'll need to use the IMPORTTEXT function. Here's the syntax of the function:

IMPORTTEXT( Path, [Delimiter], [Skip_rows], [Take_rows], [Encoding], [Locale] )

The delimiter parameter is optional and, if you omit it, defaults to a tab space. This is perfect to import our tab-delimited text file!

Importing data from a tab-delimited text file using the IMPORTTEXT function in Microsoft Excel

The results of the basic version of the function.

If your file uses any other kind of delimiter, you can enter the delimiter character as a string. Here's how to use the IMPORTTEXT function to import our csv file:

Specifying the delimiter in the IMPORTTEXT function in Microsoft Excel

I've set the delimiter to a comma, written in double-quotes.

If your delimiter is a special character, you can nest the CHAR function in the Delimiter parameter to return it.

You can use the Skip_rows and Take_rows parameters in the same way as for the IMPORTCSV function.

Other ideas

Once you've imported the data, you can use other dynamic array functions to manipulate it. Why not try the FILTER function, TAKE and DROP functions, and GROUPBY and PIVOTBY functions for starters!

Some other pages relevant to this blog include:

You can also book hourly online consultancy for your time zone with one of our 7 expert trainers!

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The sample data

The IMPORTCSV function

Controlling the number of rows returned

Using different delimiters

Other ideas

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