How Do I Open a CSV File That is Too Large for Excel?
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to know how to fix a CSV file too large to open in Excel without data loss using both manual and automated methods, which help you to effectively manage and access your oversized CSV files. Let’s walk through the article.
CSV files are simple & plain text files, which are very commonly used for storing and managing large data in tabular format using commas to make it accessible in spreadsheets and other database apps. However, many users are facing this common issue where the CSV file becomes too large and can’t be opened in Excel or other platforms.
This situation occurs when a file size increases from MBs to GBs, where Excel crashes or might show a display error. This becomes a problematic task while working on a big email database, logs or any financial records. But first, understand the reason behind it.
Instant Solutions to Fix CSV File Too Large to Open in Excel
Before understanding the reasons, know a quick way to overcome this problem using an automated solution:
- Launch & run the SysTools CSV Splitter Tool in your system.
- Click on Add Files or Folder option to import your files into the software.
- Select splitting filters, like Split by Records or Split by Size, as per your wants.
- Choose your Destination Path to save your broken files.
- Press on Split Tab to divide the CSV files into manageable files.
Why Do CSV Files Become Oversized?
These files can become too large due to:
- Financial Data: Any sales or banking records may go up to thousands of rows.
- Mass Emails or Contact Lists: Any bulk market database usually exceeds the row limits of Excel.
- App or System Logs: Saving all your activity into one single CSV file results in a huge CSV file.
- Massive Datasets: Data exported from platforms like CRM or E-Commerce, which are in millions, affect the CSV file.
These large files quickly exceed the limit of the spreadsheet app, like Excel, and cause many problems, which are discussed below:
Common Challenges Faced with Big CSV Files
Whenever you try to access a big CSV file, many errors might arise. Here are some given below:
- If a CSV file too large to open, then your system might crash or even freeze because of full memory.
- There is a risk of corruption where many files may fail to unlock, which might create a corrupted file.
- Microsoft Excel supports max 10,48,576 rows and 16,383 columns, and if your files are larger than this, then it can’t load properly.
- Sometimes, without even showing the data, it’ll automatically make your system hang.
That’s why users are asking how to open CSV file too large for Excel. So let’s take a look at the best methods suggested below:
Seamless Methods to Fix CSV File Too Big to Open Error
- Using a Text Editor
- Use MS Excel’s Built-in Import Options
- Try a Professional Software
Understand how they work with an explanation:
Method 1: Divide CSV File Using a Text Editor
If your CSV file is not that massive, then you can manually split it using a text editor; here, we’ll use Notepad++.
Steps:
- Open your large CSV file in Notepad++.
- Select some portion of the file, like half of it.
- Then, Copy & Paste the data into a new CSV file.
- Save the file and do the same for the next half.
- It’s a free tool with having simple ui.
- Effective for less data having a file.
- Very time-consuming process as you’ve to manually.
- Prone to errors if something is missed while splitting.
Method 2: Use Microsoft Excel’s built-in Import Options
After splitting the file, you can now import the small files instead of uploading the whole file.
Steps:
- Launch Excel > navigate to Data > Get Data > From Text/CSV.
- Choose CSV File.
- Use the Preview & Transform Data feature to import some part of the rows.
- Save the uploaded rows into a small CSV file.
- Do this process again for the rest of the data.
- No installation required for other tools.
- Saves time in importing the divided file.
- Limited by the Excel row capacity.
These manual methods include many limitations, as they aren’t very reliable for your file security. Moreover, you’ll surely make a mistake while breaking and importing the file into a new file. So, to prevent these challenges, we recommend using an automated utility.
Method 3: Resolve CSV File Too Large to Open Error by Professional Tool
If you’re facing difficulties while dividing the file using manual methods. So you can use the dedicated tool designed by SysTools mentioned above, which automatically fixes and opens if your CSV file too big by splitting main CSV file into smaller, manageable, and accessible parts which can open easily in Excel. It’s the most efficient, trusted and reliable software which splits files while maintaining data structure intact & without data loss.
- Compatible with both Windows and macOS.
- Supports & manages huge CSV files effectively.
- No limit of records and size.
- Maintains data integrity & formatting like headers, rows, etc.
- Ensures complete reliability & accuracy during the breaking process.
Understand its working using by step-by-step guide.
How Do I Open a CSV File That is Too Large for Excel?
Steps:
- Download & Install the Aforementioned Software.
- Press Add Files or Folder feature to upload your large CSV files into the system.
- Open your File and click Next button.
- Apply Filters such as Split by Records & Split by Size.
- Select the Location Path to store your output CSV file.
- Click on Split option to break down the massive files into small CSVs.
After using these steps, you’ll be able to know how to open a CSV file too large for Excel without facing problems.
Proactive Tips to Prevent Excess CSV Challenges
To avoid problems like CSV file too large to open in Excel, then:
- You can change your database to a continuous huge database, which can prevent excess CSV files.
- Also, save your file as a compressed ZIP file.
- Habitually remove unwanted or outdated information from your data.
- Otherwise, use the best suggested software mentioned above for splitting into manageable CSVs.
Conclusion
If you’re working with huge datasets and facing issues like How to open CSV file too large for Excel? So, in this article, we’ve covered how you can effectively open CSV files using both manual and automated methods without losing data. If you’re not comfortable using manual methods, as it’s challenging, then we also recommend the proactive tool, which can help you manage and access your files without crashing Excel. Also, it offers a demo version for all, where you can give it a try for free.