Why Excel for Mac Saves CSV Files with Semicolons & How to Fix It
Question details
Users need to understand why Excel for Mac uses semicolons instead of commas when exporting CSV files and how to change this default delimiter behavior.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Exporting or saving a spreadsheet as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file.
- Observed behavior
- The exported CSV file uses semicolons (;) instead of standard commas (,) to separate the data columns.
Close Microsoft Excel before modifying your macOS system settings to ensure the new regional configurations are applied correctly when you reopen the application.
Change macOS Region and List Separator Settings
This is the recommended approach to force Excel to use standard commas, as Excel relies entirely on macOS system-level region settings for CSV delimiters.
Excel for Mac does not feature an internal setting to change the CSV delimiter. Instead, it pulls the "list separator" preference directly from your macOS settings. If your Mac is set to a region that uses a comma as a decimal point (like many European countries), it will automatically assign the semicolon as the list separator to prevent data conflicts.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions).
Click on 'General' in the left sidebar, then select 'Language & Region' on the right.
Look for the 'Number format' setting or click 'Advanced' depending on your OS version. Change the setting to a region/format that utilizes a period (.) as a decimal separator, which natively defaults the list separator to a comma (,).
Completely quit Excel (Cmd + Q) and reopen your workbook. Go to File > Save As and select CSV. Your file will now save with comma delimiters.
Use a Text Editor to Find and Replace Delimiters
If you do not want to change your system-wide macOS settings, you can manually swap the semicolons for commas using a basic text editor after exporting.
Easily Save CSVs with Commas Using WPS Spreadsheet
Unlike Excel for Mac, which forces you to alter your system-wide macOS settings to change CSV delimiters, WPS Spreadsheet allows for hassle-free CSV exports. Save your data exactly how you need it without disrupting your Mac's regional formats.
- 1. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file you need to export.
- 2. Access the Save As Menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then select 'Save As'.
- 3. Select CSV Format: Choose 'CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)' from the file format dropdown menu.
- 4. Save the File: Click 'Save'. WPS Spreadsheet automatically handles the proper comma separation, regardless of your Mac's regional settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does macOS use semicolons by default for CSVs in certain regions?
In many European and South American countries, the comma is used as a decimal separator (e.g., 1,23). To avoid confusing the application parsing the data, macOS automatically uses a semicolon as the list separator for these regions.
Can I change the CSV delimiter setting directly inside Excel for Mac?
No, Excel for Mac lacks a built-in application-level setting to choose your CSV delimiter. It strictly inherits the macOS system-level region and list-separator settings.
Will changing the macOS list separator affect my other Mac apps?
Yes, changing the region or number format settings in macOS System Settings is a system-wide adjustment. It will alter how dates, currencies, decimals, and lists are formatted in all applications on your Mac.
