Convert to UTF-8

Change the text encoding of any text or subtitle file to unicode UTF-8.

Select your files
Supported formats: any text file or text-based subtitle file

Fixing text encoding

Text encoding is a tricky thing. Years ago, there were hundreds of different text encodings in an attempt to support all languages and character sets. Nowadays all these different languages can be encoded in unicode UTF-8, but unfortunately all the files from years ago still exist, and some stubborn countries still use old text encodings. Many devices have trouble displaying text encodings that are not UTF-8, they will display the text as random, unreadable characters.

This tool converts the uploaded text files to UTF-8 so modern devices can properly read them. You can upload multiple files at the same time, or upload a zip file.

VLC showing weird symbols or boxes

If VLC media player doesn't show subtitles correctly even after using this tool, then you have to change the font VLC uses. Here is a guide to fixing subtitles in VLC.

Mojibake

Did you know that the Japanese have a word for garbled text caused by using the wrong character encoding? The word is mojibake. Mojibake has mostly become a thing of the past, because most websites and software now use UTF-8 by default. But back in the day, mojibake was apparently such a common problem that they invented a word for it!

Other tools

All the other tools on this website automatically detect text encoding and return their output in UTF-8. When using this website, you don't have to worry about text encoding.