How to correctly open exported CSV files in Excel

Learn how to format CSV files to display special characters correctly

If the CSV file contains special characters (e.g. æ,ö,å) Microsoft Excel will change the characters if you open the CSV file directly with Excel. 

Example: 

Before opening in Excel: Allan Mørch 

After opening in Excel: Allan Mørch 

To avoid this you must first open a blank sheet in Excel. Then click the Data tab at the top of the ribbon and select From Text/CSV. 

Now, select the CSV file you want to open and select None as the File Origin. Finally, click Load.  

Now all the columns should appear in the Excel sheet including all the special characters originally in the CSV file.