How to open TSV files in Windows 10 – Easy Steps

We are all familiar with CSV files, that is, comma separated values. It is a type of file format that is easily imported and opened in the most common spreadsheet applications. Values ​​that appear to be separated by commas are separated into columns and rows. TSV files are similar but are supported much less frequently.

TSV files on Windows

TSV files are tab separated values, where ‘tab’ is the space that is entered when you hit the Tab key on your keyboard. The file has the TXT file extension and not a TSV file extension, which is just one more way it differs from a CSV file. A single data set will be on the same line, but it will be divided by a “tab” value.

Open TSV files in Windows 10

Technically, opening a TSV file in Windows 10 is easy as it is a text file. You can use any basic text editor like Notepad to open it.

1. Right-click on the TSV file and select Open With
2. Select Notepad.
3. The file will open.

This method works, but the data is not easy to read. A text editor does not have a grid of rows and columns that displays data in an easy-to-read format. This is why you essentially need a spreadsheet tool to open it up and make sense of it.

1. TSV files: Microsoft Excel

Excel can open a TSV file, but you must define the delimiter character for the TSV file when you open it in Excel.

1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Go to File> Open.
3. In the Files of type drop-down menu, select All Files.
4. Select the TSV file.
5. When prompted, select Tab as the delimiter value.
6. The TSV file will open.

2. Archivos TSV – OpenOffice

Microsoft Excel is not a free application. You need to purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription in order to use. The web version of Outlook is free but does not support TSV files. For a free solution, use OpenOffice.

1. Download OpenOffice.
2. Choose Calc during installation (unless you want to install the full productivity pack).
3. Open Calc.
4. Go to File> Open.
5. Select the TSV file.
6. Choose Tab as the delimiting character and uncheck all others.
7. The TSV file will open.

conclusion

Surprisingly, there is little support for TSV files. Google Sheets does not support it. Instead, open the file as a document. You can find TSV file viewers online, that is, applications that can display the contents of the file in rows and columns, but if you want to be able to edit the file, you will have to use Excel or Calc.