> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://doc.duaer.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://doc.duaer.com/tools/gbk-utf8-converter.md).

# GBK to UTF-8 converter online (fix garbled CSV and TXT)

A free Duaer tool that detects whether a file is GBK or UTF-8 and converts it to UTF-8 (with or without BOM) or GBK, fixing garbled Chinese in CSV, TXT, subtitle, and other text files. No upload.

Interactive converter (runs in the browser, no upload): https://doc.duaer.com/tools/gbk-utf8-converter/

## How to use it

1. Drop a text file into the box above; the status line shows the detected encoding.
2. Choose a target under "Convert to". GBK files default to UTF-8 with BOM, and UTF-8 files default to GBK.
3. Check the preview, then download. The file name and extension stay the same.

## Which one to pick

- Opening in Excel by double-click: "UTF-8 with BOM".
- Feeding a script, database, or website: usually "UTF-8 without BOM".
- Older systems, bank, or tax software that only accept GBK: "GBK". Characters GBK cannot hold, such as emoji and some rare characters, become "?", and the status line counts them.

## Handle encodings in Duaer

In Duaer, read GBK files with [Extract from File](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/duaer-nodes-base.extractfromfile.md) › Extract From Text File and set Options › File Encoding to gbk. Write GBK files with [Convert to File](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/duaer-nodes-base.converttofile.md) › Convert to Text File and set Options › Encoding to gbk.
## Questions

### How does it tell GBK from UTF-8?

The Duaer converter tries strict UTF-8 first and falls back to GBK, then shows the result. UTF-8 with BOM and UTF-16 are recognized too.

### Still garbled after converting?

The source may already be damaged by an earlier wrong save, or use another encoding such as Big5. The Duaer converter handles GBK and UTF-8 only.

## Related

- [Free file converters from Duaer](https://doc.duaer.com/tools.md)
- [CSV to Excel converter (free, no upload)](https://doc.duaer.com/tools/csv-to-excel.md)
- [Excel to CSV converter (UTF-8, no upload)](https://doc.duaer.com/tools/excel-to-csv.md)
- [Parse CSV text in Duaer, including GBK files](https://doc.duaer.com/snippets/parse-csv-in-code-node.md)