How to Create a CSV File on Mac
On a Mac you can create a CSV file three ways: export from Numbers, save from Excel, or write it in TextEdit (with one critical setting). Numbers is the fastest path for most users — it's free and ships with macOS.
Using Numbers (recommended)
- Open Numbers and enter your data.
- File → Export To → CSV…
- Click Advanced Options, pick Unicode (UTF-8) for Text Encoding.
- Click Next, name the file, click Export.
Using TextEdit (watch the format)
TextEdit defaults to Rich Text Format (.rtf), which breaks CSV. Switch to plain text first: Format → Make Plain Text (or ⌘⇧T). Then type your CSV, File → Save, change extension to .csv, and uncheck "If no extension is provided, use .txt".
Using Terminal
printf 'name,email\nAda,ada@example.com\nGrace,grace@example.com\n' > people.csv
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Mac CSV open as gibberish in Windows Excel?
Encoding. Re-export from Numbers with Unicode (UTF-8) selected.
Can I email a CSV from iPhone?
Yes — Numbers on iPhone has the same Export → CSV option, and you can share directly to Mail or Messages.