Data Import & Export

How to Fix Excel Exporting CSV Files with Semicolons Instead of Commas

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to change the default delimiter from semicolons back to standard commas when exporting an Excel worksheet as a CSV file.

How to Fix Excel CSV Export Using Semicolons Instead of Commas

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Exporting a spreadsheet to a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file format for data import into another system.
Observed behavior: Excel automatically separates the data fields using semicolons instead of the expected commas within the exported CSV file.

Before you start

Ensure you save and close your current Excel workbooks. Modifying Windows regional settings to fix the delimiter issue will also update how decimals and lists are formatted across your entire operating system.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Windows List Separator in Regional Settings

Adjusting the default list separator in your Windows Control Panel will force Excel to use commas instead of semicolons for all future CSV exports.

Excel relies heavily on your system's regional settings to determine the default delimiter for CSV files. If your system is configured to use a comma as a decimal separator (which is very common in many European countries), Windows automatically assigns the semicolon as the list separator to prevent conflicts between decimals and field breaks.

Open Regional Settings

Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and press Enter. Navigate to 'Clock and Region' and click on 'Region'.

Access Additional Settings

In the Region window under the Formats tab, click the 'Additional settings...' button located at the bottom right corner.

Adjust the Decimal Symbol

In the 'Customize Format' dialog box, find the 'Decimal symbol' field and change it from a comma (,) to a period (.).

Change the List Separator

Locate the 'List separator' field just below the decimal options. Change the existing semicolon (;) to a comma (,).

Apply and Re-export

Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save your changes. Restart Microsoft Excel, open your worksheet, and save the file again as 'CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)'.

Modify the Windows List Separator in Regional Settings

Windows Version Differences: The exact path to open the 'Customize Format' page may look slightly different depending on whether you use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but the search bar in the Start Menu is the fastest way to find 'Regional format settings' on both versions.

Solution 2

Use Notepad to Find and Replace Delimiters

If you prefer not to change your system-wide Windows settings, you can manually replace the semicolons in a basic text editor.

Easy CSV Exporting with WPS Office

Export CSV Files Seamlessly with WPS Spreadsheet

Avoid frustrating system setting conflicts by using WPS Spreadsheet to export your data exactly as needed. WPS Office provides straightforward file format conversion without forcing you to alter your entire computer's regional language and decimal configurations.

1. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the data file you wish to export.
2. Access the Save Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner of the workspace and select 'Save As'.
3. Select CSV Format: In the 'File Type' dropdown menu at the bottom of the dialog, choose 'CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)'.
4. Export the File: Choose your desired save location and click 'Save'. Your data will instantly export with standard comma delimiters.

Easily export data directly to standard comma-separated CSV files without system setting issues.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xls, .xlsx, .xlsm).Lightweight, completely free to use, and runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.Maintains advanced formatting and international characters with UTF-8 encoding support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel suddenly change my CSV commas to semicolons?

Excel looks at your Windows regional settings to decide which character separates list items. In geographic regions where a comma is used as a decimal point, Windows automatically changes the list separator to a semicolon so the system doesn't confuse decimal values with list breaks.

Can I change the CSV delimiter in Excel without modifying my Windows settings?

Microsoft Excel does not offer an isolated, built-in setting just for CSV delimiters. You must either alter the global Windows Regional Settings or use a text editor tool like Notepad to manually replace the semicolons after the export is completed.

Will changing the Windows list separator impact other programs?

Yes, modifying the list separator or decimal symbol inside the Windows Control Panel applies system-wide. Other applications that rely on your regional settings for rendering currency, dates, decimals, or data formats will also inherit this new configuration.

What is CSV UTF-8 and should I use it when exporting?

CSV UTF-8 is an encoding standard that preserves special characters, symbols, and international alphabets when saving your file. It is highly recommended to select CSV UTF-8 rather than standard CSV when exporting from Excel to ensure all non-English text displays correctly in other programs.

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