If every CSV record appears in one column, Sheets may have used the wrong separator. Determine the file’s actual structure before splitting the visible text.
Inspect a few source records
Open an appropriate read-only view of the source file and identify whether fields are separated by commas, semicolons, tabs, or another character. Check quoted fields containing punctuation.
A filename ending in .csv does not prove that commas separate its fields. Regional export settings and source-system conventions can produce another separator.
Reimport with the correct separator
Use File > Import, choose a safe destination, and select the appropriate Separator type. Keep the original imported attempt until the corrected result is verified, but do not append it as another set of business records.
For simple unquoted text already in a sheet, Data > Split text to columns can be suitable. It is not a substitute for a proper CSV parser when quoted delimiters or multiline fields are involved.
Check column alignment and types
Compare expected headers and field counts. Inspect records with empty middle fields and punctuation inside names or descriptions. A successful split can still shift later fields if empty values were discarded.
Check IDs, dates, decimals, and non-ASCII text after reimporting. Do not perform a workbook-wide comma replacement, since commas may be part of descriptions or numbers. Reconcile the corrected row count with the authoritative source and remove only the redundant test import once the result is established. Document the separator and source encoding so the next export can be loaded consistently.
References
- Learn how to optimize your data ingestion
- Split text, remove duplicates, or trim whitespace
- SPLIT function
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.