Convert CSV to TSV on Mac
Select the CSV files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose TSV and press Return. FileFlip saves each TSV next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert CSV to TSV with FileFlip
Select the CSV files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from CSV. Type “TSV” to jump to it.
Choose TSV and press Return
The TSV files appear next to the originals with the same names. The CSV files stay as they are.
CSV and TSV
CSV has no structure beyond rows and columns, which code and config files often need. TSV avoids trouble with commas inside values and pastes cleanly into spreadsheets.
What changes when you convert
- Only the separator changes, from commas to tabs or back.
| Property | CSV | TSV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Comma-separated values | Tab-separated values |
| Best for | Moving tables between spreadsheets, databases and tools | Tables with commas in the data; pasting into spreadsheets |
| Opens in | Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets and most databases | Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets and most data tools |
| File extension | .csv | .tsv |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Excel
If you have Microsoft Excel, open the file, choose File → Save As and pick CSV UTF-8 or Tab delimited Text. Excel saves tab-delimited files with a .txt extension.
Needs Microsoft Excel.
Terminal
For simple files, swap the separator with tr.
tr ',' '\t' < customers.csv > customers.tsvOnly safe when no value contains a comma, tab or quote.
Questions about CSV and TSV
Can I convert many CSV files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose TSV. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the TSV file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .tsv extension. The CSV file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert TSV back to CSV?
Yes, FileFlip converts TSV to CSV as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a folder of data files at once
FileFlip also handles images, camera raw files, video, audio, PDFs and documents. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac