Can IMPORTDATA import data from a Google Sheets URL?

No. IMPORTDATA is designed for delimited files like CSV and TSV. For Google Sheets, use IMPORTRANGE instead. However, if you export a Google Sheet as CSV and use that exported URL, IMPORTDATA will work.

How do I import data with delimiters other than commas, like semicolons or tabs?

Use the second argument: =IMPORTDATA(url, ";") for semicolons or =IMPORTDATA(url, CHAR(9)) for tabs. The delimiter must be a single character string.

Does IMPORTDATA automatically refresh when the source file changes?

Yes. IMPORTDATA recalculates whenever your sheet recalculates (triggered by edits or manual refresh). For frequently changing data, this updates automatically, though very large files may recalculate slower.

What's the difference between IMPORTDATA and IMPORTHTML?

IMPORTDATA imports delimited data (CSV, TSV) from URLs. IMPORTHTML extracts structured data from HTML tables or lists on web pages. Use IMPORTDATA for data files and IMPORTHTML for web page content.

IMPORTDATA function

Imports delimited data from a URL and returns it as a range of cells in your spreadsheet, parsing content automatically for immediate use.

=IMPORTDATA(url, [delimiter])

Generate a IMPORTDATA formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for IMPORTDATA where IMPORTDATA is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

Arguments

How IMPORTDATA reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
url	Required	The URL pointing to the data file (typically CSV). Must return valid delimited data; returns #N/A if the URL is unreachable, returns a 404, or the server is unavailable.
delimiter	Optional	A single character that separates columns in the imported data. If omitted, assumes comma (,) as the default. Must be a single character; returns #VALUE! if passed multiple characters or an invalid type.

Returns

A two-dimensional array of text values parsed from the imported file.

Availability

Excel: Not available · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Import an employee roster from a public CSV URL

ID	Name	Department	Hire Date	Salary	Status
1001	Alice Johnson	Sales	2020-03-15	75000	Active
1002	Bob Smith	Engineering	2019-07-22	95000	Active
1003	Carol Williams	Marketing	2021-01-10	68000	Active

=IMPORTDATA("https://example.com/employees.csv")

Result: A range containing all columns (ID, Name, Department, Hire Date, Salary, Status) for each employee.

IMPORTDATA fetches the CSV file from the URL and automatically parses it using the default comma delimiter. Each row and column is preserved as it appears in the source file, making the data immediately available for analysis or reference.

2. Import tab-separated employee data with custom delimiter

ID	Name	Department	Hire Date	Salary	Status
1001	Alice Johnson	Sales	2020-03-15	75000	Active
1002	Bob Smith	Engineering	2019-07-22	95000	Active
1004	David Brown	Sales	2022-05-08	72000	On Leave

=IMPORTDATA("https://example.com/employees.tsv",CHAR(9))

Result: A range with columns correctly separated by tabs instead of commas.

When the source file uses tabs as delimiters, IMPORTDATA uses CHAR(9) (the tab character) as the second argument. This correctly splits each row into separate columns, preserving the original data structure even when the delimiter differs from the default comma.

3. Import employee data and filter for active staff in one formula

1001	Alice Johnson	Sales	2020-03-15	75000	Active
1002	Bob Smith	Engineering	2019-07-22	95000	Active
1003	Carol Williams	Marketing	2021-01-10	68000	Active
1005	Eve Davis	Engineering	2018-11-30	105000	Active

=QUERY(IMPORTDATA("https://example.com/employees.csv"),"SELECT * WHERE Col6 = 'Active'")

Result: Only rows where the Status column (column 6) equals 'Active'; employees on leave are excluded.

IMPORTDATA retrieves all employee records, and QUERY applies a SQL-like filter to select only rows where Status equals 'Active'. This approach combines import and transformation in a single formula, keeping your sheet dynamic without requiring helper columns.

Common errors

Which IMPORTDATA error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#N/A	The URL is unreachable, returns a 404 error, the server is offline, or the connection times out.	Verify the URL is correct and the file exists. Test the URL directly in a browser. Confirm the server and network are accessible.
#VALUE!	The delimiter argument is not a single character (e.g., you passed multiple characters, a number, or an invalid type).	Ensure the delimiter is a single character enclosed in quotes, such as "," for comma or CHAR(9) for tab. Do not pass empty strings or multi-character values.
#N/A	The imported file is empty, contains no parseable data, or the data format doesn't match the specified delimiter.	Verify the source file contains properly formatted delimited data. If using a custom delimiter, confirm the actual file uses that delimiter and isn't corrupted.

Tips and when to use something else

Use IMPORTDATA for static CSV URLs; for live data from Google Sheets, use IMPORTRANGE instead—it's more efficient and handles Sheet-specific features.
IMPORTDATA recalculates when your sheet recalculates (usually on edit), so large files may cause performance lag. Consider importing periodically rather than on every sheet open.
Combine IMPORTDATA with QUERY or FILTER to transform imported data in a single formula, avoiding helper columns and keeping your sheet cleaner.
Test your URL in a browser first to confirm it returns the expected data format and delimiter before debugging #N/A errors in your formula.

Related functions

QUERYQuery a dataset using SQL-like syntax to filter, sort, and extract specific rows and columns that match your conditions.IMPORTRANGEIMPORTRANGE retrieves a specified range of cells from another Google Sheet and displays it in the current sheet.IMPORTHTMLFetches HTML tables or lists from a webpage and returns them as a 2D array, useful for importing public data without manual copying.FILTERReturns filtered rows from an array based on a boolean criteria array, retaining the original order and all columns.

Frequently asked questions

Can IMPORTDATA import data from a Google Sheets URL?: No. IMPORTDATA is designed for delimited files like CSV and TSV. For Google Sheets, use IMPORTRANGE instead. However, if you export a Google Sheet as CSV and use that exported URL, IMPORTDATA will work.
How do I import data with delimiters other than commas, like semicolons or tabs?: Use the second argument: =IMPORTDATA(url, ";") for semicolons or =IMPORTDATA(url, CHAR(9)) for tabs. The delimiter must be a single character string.
Does IMPORTDATA automatically refresh when the source file changes?: Yes. IMPORTDATA recalculates whenever your sheet recalculates (triggered by edits or manual refresh). For frequently changing data, this updates automatically, though very large files may recalculate slower.
What's the difference between IMPORTDATA and IMPORTHTML?: IMPORTDATA imports delimited data (CSV, TSV) from URLs. IMPORTHTML extracts structured data from HTML tables or lists on web pages. Use IMPORTDATA for data files and IMPORTHTML for web page content.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17