.TSV file extension

To open .TSV files on Windows, try opening the file in a spreadsheet app that can import delimited text; if it opens as a single column, use the app’s import/text-to-columns feature and select Tab as the delimiter.

To open a .TSV file, use a spreadsheet or a text editor: it is just text with tab-separated columns. If the columns do not line up correctly when you open it, import it as “delimited text” and choose Tab as the delimiter.

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Last updated: June 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

What “reviewed” means on this page

Format fit: whether the “what is this file?” description matches common real-world use of the extension, including category, typical MIME types, and aliases.
Opening paths: whether Windows / macOS / Linux steps read plausibly for current OS dialogs and default apps; we remove fantasy menus and unsafe shortcuts.
Security framing: whether risk notes match the extension class (for example executables vs plain data) and whether affiliate wording does not contradict the security section.
Sources and further reading: whether external links point to vendors, standards bodies, or other primary references where possible; we avoid inventing details we cannot ground.
Limits: this is clarity and safety-messaging QA, not a guarantee that every statement is exhaustive or that every binary you download is harmless.

Full methodology in the Imprint — The Imprint also states where AI is used and what that does—and does not—replace.

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .TSV files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .TSV files safely.

Windows

Try opening the file in a spreadsheet app that can import delimited text; if it opens as a single column, use the app’s import/text-to-columns feature and select Tab as the delimiter.
If you only need to view or quickly edit, open it in a plain-text editor to confirm it contains tabs between values.

Full Windows guide

Mac

Open the .TSV in a spreadsheet app; if the data appears in one column, re-import it as a tab-delimited text file (delimiter: Tab).
For inspection/troubleshooting, open it in a plain-text editor to verify tabs and line breaks.

Full Mac guide

Linux

Open it in a spreadsheet app that supports importing delimited text; when prompted, choose Tab as the field delimiter (LibreOffice Calc supports delimited-text import).
If double-click opens the wrong app, adjust the file association using your desktop’s MIME settings (Linux desktops typically use the freedesktop.org Shared MIME-info mechanism).

Full Linux guide

iOS

Use the Files app to share/open the .TSV in an installed spreadsheet or text editor app; if no suitable app is available, transfer the file to a desktop to import it as tab-delimited text.

Full iOS guide

Android

Open the .TSV from your file manager using an installed spreadsheet or text editor app; if it displays as one column, look for an “Import” option and set the delimiter to Tab, or move it to a desktop for import.

Full Android guide

Security notes

A .TSV file is typically plain text and does not contain macros by itself, but it can still carry untrusted data that triggers problems in the software that imports it (parser bugs or unexpected data types). Prefer opening in a reputable spreadsheet/text tool and avoid obscure importers for untrusted files.
Be cautious when importing TSV into systems that execute or evaluate content (for example, tools that interpret formulas or commands). If you do not trust the source, import as plain text (not auto-typed) and review the contents in a text editor first.
If a “.tsv” file behaves like a different file type (requests execution, appears as a binary, or contains unreadable binary content), treat it as suspicious; TSV should be readable as text.

If you did not expect this file

This extension is usually plain data, text, or structured content—not a program by itself. The practical risk is social engineering (a scam attachment or misleading filename). For trusted senders you rarely need heavy-handed antivirus wording; use these tools when you want an extra check on unexpected downloads.

Avast

Avast offers free and premium antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing. Scan files before opening them to ensure safety.

Norton

Norton 360 delivers comprehensive antivirus protection, VPN, and identity theft monitoring. Scan files for threats before opening to keep your device secure.

We may earn a commission when you use affiliate links. This supports our free file extension guides.

Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .TSV files fail to open.

Common reasons

Everything appears in one column
Garbled characters (encoding issues)
Rows break unexpectedly or data shifts
Double-click opens the wrong application

Fix steps

Re-open using an import workflow for delimited text and set the delimiter to Tab.
Verify the file actually contains tab characters (open in a text editor and look for consistent spacing between fields).

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .TSV file?

TSV (Tab-Separated Values) stores a table as plain text: each record is on its own line, and fields within a record are separated by a tab character. Because it is plain text, it is broadly interoperable, but correct parsing depends on using the right delimiter (tab) and handling line endings consistently.

Background

TSV is one of the common “delimiter-separated values” formats used to move tabular data between tools. It is simple: tabs separate columns and newlines separate rows, which makes it easy to generate and read in many workflows.

The Library of Congress describes TSV as a plain-text tabular format and notes its common use for interoperability and export, including in spreadsheet-related workflows. In practice, many applications treat TSV similarly to CSV, but with tabs instead of commas.

On the standards side, TSV has an officially registered media type: IANA lists it as text/tab-separated-values. On Linux desktops, file associations (like mapping .tsv to that MIME type) typically follow the freedesktop.org Shared MIME-info specification.

Common MIME types: text/tab-separated-values

Common .TSV issues

Everything appears in one column

The app opened the file as plain text without splitting on tabs, or it assumed a different delimiter (like commas).

Re-open using an import workflow for delimited text and set the delimiter to Tab.
Verify the file actually contains tab characters (open in a text editor and look for consistent spacing between fields).

Garbled characters (encoding issues)

TSV is plain text, but different tools may assume different character encodings, causing accents/symbols to display incorrectly.

Re-import the TSV and choose a different text encoding (commonly UTF-8, if available).
Ask the sender/exporting system which encoding was used and re-export as UTF-8 if possible.

Rows break unexpectedly or data shifts

Inconsistent line endings or embedded newlines/tabs inside fields can confuse parsers and cause records to split incorrectly.

Open the file in a text editor and check for unexpected line breaks within a single logical record.
Re-export from the source system with consistent record separators and proper handling of embedded newlines.

Double-click opens the wrong application

Your system’s file association may map .tsv to an app that doesn’t import it as a table.

Use “Open with” to choose a spreadsheet or text editor.
On Linux, update the association using your desktop environment’s MIME/file association settings (per the Shared MIME-info approach).

FAQ

What is the difference between TSV and CSV?

They are both plain-text tables, but TSV uses tabs between fields while CSV typically uses commas. TSV can be easier when data contains commas, but it can be harder to read if tabs/spaces are confused.

Can I open a TSV file in a spreadsheet application?

Yes. Many spreadsheet apps can import delimited text; if it doesn’t split into columns automatically, import it and choose Tab as the delimiter (LibreOffice Calc documents this workflow for delimited text).

Is it safe to rename .csv to .tsv (or .tsv to .csv)?

Renaming only changes the extension, not the actual delimiter. If the file uses tabs, keep it as TSV (or change the delimiter during export/conversion rather than renaming).

What MIME type is used for TSV?

The officially registered media type for TSV is text/tab-separated-values (listed in the IANA media type registry).

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