Excel "Get Data" function won't import a CSV file, gives unspecific error message

Question

Until today, I've been able to use Microsoft 365's Excel's "Data>Get Data" function to import CSV-formatted files into an open workbook.

Today, I go "Get Data>From File>TEXT/CSV". When the file directory opens, I select "Downloads" which is where my company's data provider system auto-exports these CSV files.

when I select the file and select "Import" the hour glass runs intermittently and I get the error message shown in the attached. Per that message, I close and reopen Excel, but no luck.

I've gone into Microsoft and performed all updates, retried with same result.

Please help

Answer 1

Try these targeted checks and fixes for CSV import failures via Data > Get Data > From File > Text/CSV:

1. Confirm the CSV file actually has data
   • Open the CSV directly in Excel using File > Open (or double‑click it in File Explorer).
   • If it opens but is empty, the import can fail with a generic error. In that case, re‑export the data from the provider system and verify the CSV contains rows and columns before using Get Data again.
2. Test with a known‑good CSV
   • Create a simple test CSV from Excel:
     1. Enter a few rows of sample data in a new workbook.
     2. Save As > CSV (Comma delimited).
     3. Close the file, then use Data > Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV to import this test CSV.
   • If the test file imports but the provider file does not, the issue is likely with the provider file’s content or format (for example, malformed text, encoding, or structure). Re‑download or regenerate that file.
3. Try opening instead of Get Data
   • Use File > Open, set file type to Text Files or All Files, and open the same CSV.
   • Excel will either:
     • Open it directly, or
     • Run the Text Import Wizard.
   • If this also fails, the file is likely corrupt or not a valid text/CSV file and needs to be recreated by the data provider.
4. Check for special characters in the file name or path
   • If the CSV file or any folder in its path contains characters like [ ], ?, <, >, :, |, or *, Excel can fail to access it from outside Excel.
   • In File Explorer, rename the file and/or folders to remove these characters, then retry the import.
5. Move the file to a simpler location
   • Copy the CSV from Downloads to a simple path such as C:\Data\test.csv (no special characters, short path) and try Get Data again.
6. Repair Office if all CSVs fail
   • If every CSV (including a simple test one) fails with the same error, Office components may be corrupted.
   • Run an Online Repair of Microsoft 365 from Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify > Online Repair, then retry the import.

If, after these steps, only the provider’s CSVs fail while test CSVs work, the provider’s export format or file integrity must be corrected on their side.

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References:

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• When I open an excel file it shows - We're sorry, but excel has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly, Excel will need to be closed as a result. would you like us to repair now? then shows the option "repair now","help","close" - Microsoft Q&A