Data guide · 4 min read
How to open a JSON file in Excel
Convert JSON to CSV and open in Excel using Power Query, online converter, or PowerShell. Step-by-step instructions for Windows and Mac.
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1 Method 1 — Online converter (fastest)
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2 Method 2 — Excel's Power Query (Windows, Mac)
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3 Method 3 — PowerShell (Windows)
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4 Method 4 — Python / pandas (cross-platform)
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5 Common Excel pitfalls
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Frequently asked questions
Can I edit the JSON file directly in Excel?
Not as JSON — Excel only reads and writes spreadsheet formats. Import, edit as cells, then export back to JSON using Power Query's "Transform" pane or a formula (`TEXTJOIN`, `"{"&..."}`) for small datasets.
What if my JSON is an array of arrays, not objects?
Use our converter with headers turned off — each inner array becomes a row, with columns named `col1`, `col2`, etc. You can rename them in Excel after import.
My JSON is 500 MB — will Excel handle it?
Excel's row limit is 1,048,576. If your JSON exceeds that, load the CSV into Power BI or a database instead — Excel will truncate silently.
Does Google Sheets open JSON?
Not directly. Convert to CSV first (our converter, or `=IMPORTDATA` pointing at a public JSON-to-CSV service). Google Sheets also accepts pasted TSV via copy from any table.