Convert text file encoding online

Convert a text file from one character encoding to another — UTF-8, UTF-16LE, UTF-16BE or Windows-1252 — right in your browser. This free text encoding converter reads your .txt or .csv file, decodes it with the source encoding you pick, shows a live preview, then re-encodes it to your target encoding with an optional byte-order mark (BOM). It's the fastest way to fix mojibake, convert UTF-8 to UTF-16, or change a file from Latin-1 / Windows-1252 to UTF-8. Everything runs locally, so your file is never uploaded and never leaves your device.

🔒 100% private — files never leave your device

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How to use

  1. Select or drop a text file (.txt, .csv or any text/* file).
  2. Choose the source encoding that matches how the file was saved, then pick the target encoding you want (UTF-8, UTF-16LE, UTF-16BE or Windows-1252).
  3. Check the decoded preview — if accented characters look wrong, switch the source encoding until the text reads correctly.
  4. Optionally add a BOM, then click Convert and download the re-encoded file.

Frequently asked questions

Which text encodings are supported?

You can convert between UTF-8, UTF-16LE, UTF-16BE and Windows-1252 (also known as CP1252 or Latin-1). Pick any of these as the source and any as the target.

Is my file uploaded anywhere?

No. Decoding and re-encoding happen entirely in your browser using the built-in TextDecoder and TextEncoder, so your file never leaves your device and nothing is uploaded to a server.

How do I fix mojibake or garbled accented characters?

Mojibake happens when a file is read with the wrong encoding. Choose the source encoding that matches how the file was actually saved — if accents look wrong as UTF-8, try Windows-1252 (or vice versa) until the preview reads correctly, then convert to UTF-8.

When should I add a BOM?

A byte-order mark helps some programs detect UTF-16 byte order or recognise a UTF-8 file. UTF-8 uses EF BB BF, UTF-16LE uses FF FE and UTF-16BE uses FE FF. Windows-1252 has no BOM, so the option has no effect for that target.

What happens to characters Windows-1252 can't represent?

Windows-1252 only covers a limited set of characters. Common symbols like the euro sign, smart quotes, dashes, the ellipsis and the trademark sign are mapped correctly, but any character outside the range is replaced with a question mark (?).

Is there a file size limit or does it change my text?

There's no fixed limit beyond your device's memory, and very large files may be slow since everything runs in the browser. The tool only re-encodes the bytes — it never alters your wording, line breaks or content, and it keeps the original file name.

About this tool

Free text encoding converter that changes a file between UTF-8, UTF-16 and Windows-1252 — fix mojibake, preview the text, add an optional BOM. 100% in your browser, nothing uploaded.

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