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> Troubleshooting tips and guides for working with CSV files for bulk actions in the emnify Portal.

This guide provides detailed instructions on how to create, edit, and use comma-separated values (CSV) files compatible with the emnify Portal.
It also addresses common issues and their resolutions.

> **Note**
>
> CSV files drive several bulk actions.
> This page covers the formatting rules and the troubleshooting steps for all of them.
> The file contents and the limits differ by action:
>
> * [Assign EIDs to eSIM profiles](/portal/how-tos/consumer-esim/assign-eids#assign-eids-in-bulk) takes one EID per line.
> * [Rename devices in bulk](/portal/how-tos/rename-devices-in-bulk) takes two columns, the ICCID and the new device name.

## What is a CSV file?

Comma-separated values (CSV) is a file format used to store tabular data, such as a spreadsheet or database.
Each row in a CSV file corresponds to a record, and columns are separated by commas and semicolons.

### Types of CSV files accepted by emnify

The emnify Portal accepts CSV files with standard comma (`,`) or semicolon (`;`) separation.
Ensure the file:

* Uses UTF-8 encoding.
* Avoids extra formatting (for example, merged cells or text styling).

## Get a CSV file with device ICCIDs

To rename devices in bulk you need a CSV file with the [integrated circuit card identifiers (ICCIDs)](https://www.emnify.com/iot-glossary#iccid) and new device names.
You can retrieve a CSV file with device ICCIDs from **Reports** in the emnify Portal.

Navigate to [**Reports**](https://portal.emnify.com/reports).

Select the **Device List** report.

![](/_fern-img/89c2be1389105bde5867e35d9f3b2c190b6801712051b753123c3422a8c90536.webp)

In the upper right corner, click **More Options**.

![](/_fern-img/be3c19f4db6ae68b3a1ad07cc6a444500733c3131281ed85a53289e1ed64e3f4.webp)

Click **Download Data** to export and save the CSV file to your local device.

![](/_fern-img/9ebf1adc9ae4c6b6eee40f0322dead2a884781695e5a35bec12a0ed89b1ced8f.webp)

> **Tip**
>
> You can download an example CSV file from the emnify Portal to see the correct format.
> Follow the upload CSV steps in the [Rename devices in bulk](/portal/how-tos/rename-devices-in-bulk) guide.

## Applications for working with CSV files

There are many options for working with CSV files, including [Microsoft Excel](#microsoft-excel), [Google Sheets](#google-sheets), [Apple Numbers](#apple-numbers), [LibreOffice Calc](#libreoffice-calc), and [plain text editors](#plain-text-editors).

> **Tip**
>
> To avoid issues on any application, don't convert the CSV file or change its formatting.
> Some tools automatically reformat data, particularly ICCIDs, leading to errors.

### Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a widely used spreadsheet application that can cause issues with CSV files depending on your operating system.

#### Open CSV files on macOS

Microsoft Excel on macOS tends to open CSV files with all data in a single column.
To prevent data conversion errors and ICCIDs from being altered, open the file and choose **Don't Convert** when prompted.

![](/_fern-img/d8694bec0575be2bb72f543230fccdf5d6be8359de0e2ccda6d0f1a3a1c90665.webp)

#### Open CSV files on Windows 10

Microsoft Excel on Windows often converts ICCIDs into a scientific format (for example, `8.91234E+18`) with no way to convert it back.
To avoid this, try the following:

Open Microsoft Excel and select **File** > **Open**.

Import the CSV as a text file and set the ICCID column type to **Text**.

#### Edit CSV files in Microsoft Excel

For bulk device renaming, you need two columns in your CSV file:

1. **ICCID**: The unique identifier for each device (maximum length: 22 characters)
2. **Device Name**: The new name you want to assign to each device (maximum length: 45 characters)

Other format requirements include:

* Maximum file size: 400 KB
* Maximum rows: 2000
* Naming conventions: Device names can't contain commas `,` or semicolons `;` as those are used as delimiters in the CSV file.

To edit a CSV file you downloaded from the emnify Portal:

Open the CSV file.

Remove unnecessary columns, keeping only **ICCID** and **Device Name**.

Enter the desired names in the **Device Name** column.

#### Save CSV files in Microsoft Excel

After editing the CSV file, save it correctly to avoid issues during the upload process.
Ensure the file:

* Uses commas (`,`) or semicolons (`;`) as delimiters.
* Is saved in UTF-8 encoding.
* Doesn't contain extra formatting or unnecessary metadata.

To save a CSV file so it's compatible with the emnify Portal:

Select **File** > **Save As**

Choose **CSV UTF-8 (Comma-delimited) (.csv)** in the **File Format** dropdown menu

> **Warning**
>
> Microsoft Excel also offers a **Comma Separated Values (.csv)** option, but it doesn't save the file in UTF-8 encoding.
>
> ![Microsoft Excel File Format list with CSV UTF-8 Comma delimited selected, above the plain Comma Separated Values option](/_fern-img/da3aa04fa3a4a8b1f50e559db7553479f1fd19dcc1533b2b2b4b41180ab3d85a.webp)

Click **Save**.

> **Tip for Windows users**
>
> Microsoft Excel on Windows often saves CSV files with ANSI encoding by default.
> If the file saves in ANSI encoding, re-open it in Notepad and save it with UTF-8 encoding:
>
> Select **File** > **Save as...** > In the dialog, add the `.csv` extension to the filename then choose **All Files** for **Save as type** and **UTF-8** for **Encoding** > **Save**.
>
> ![](/_fern-img/b5020f04e1ea2f25865a76f4d89122f7754747792b13e3bad5613087067c1604.webp)

### Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a popular tool for working with CSV files and works well with files downloaded from the emnify Portal.

#### Open CSV files in Google Sheets

Open Google Sheets and select **File** > **Import** > **Upload**.

Upload your CSV file.

Before editing, ensure that the data format for the ICCID column follows the necessary format.

#### Edit CSV files in Google Sheets

For bulk device renaming, you need two columns in your CSV file:

1. **ICCID**: The unique identifier for each device (maximum length: 22 characters)
2. **Device Name**: The new name you want to assign to each device (maximum length: 45 characters)

Other format requirements include:

* Maximum file size: 400 KB
* Maximum rows: 2000
* Naming conventions: Device names can't contain commas `,` or semicolons `;` as those are used as delimiters in the CSV file.

To edit a CSV file you downloaded from the emnify Portal:

Open the CSV file.

Remove unnecessary columns, keeping only **ICCID** and **Device Name**.

Enter the desired names in the **Device Name** column.

#### Save CSV files in Google Sheets

After editing the CSV file, save it correctly to avoid issues during the upload process.
Ensure the file:

* Uses commas (`,`) or semicolons (`;`) as delimiters.
* Is saved in UTF-8 encoding.
* Doesn't contain extra formatting or unnecessary metadata.

To save a CSV file so it's compatible with the emnify Portal:

Select **File** > **Download** > **Comma-separated values (.csv)**.
![](/_fern-img/f214274dea189bb16f35f1f5e67dad8fdcd790db34faa4c556670eb7367acf79.webp)

### Apple Numbers

Apple Numbers is a spreadsheet application for macOS.
It's compatible with CSV files from the emnify Portal.

> **Info**
>
> When you edit and save CSV files downloaded from the emnify Portal in Numbers, it changes the delimiter from a comma (`,`) to a semicolon (`;`).

#### Edit CSV files in Apple Numbers

For bulk device renaming, you need two columns in your CSV file:

1. **ICCID**: The unique identifier for each device (maximum length: 22 characters)
2. **Device Name**: The new name you want to assign to each device (maximum length: 45 characters)

Other format requirements include:

* Maximum file size: 400 KB
* Maximum rows: 2000
* Naming conventions: Device names can't contain commas `,` or semicolons `;` as those are used as delimiters in the CSV file.

To edit a CSV file you downloaded from the emnify Portal:

Open the CSV file.

Remove unnecessary columns, keeping only **ICCID** and **Device Name**.

Enter the desired names in the **Device Name** column.

#### Save CSV files in Apple Numbers

After editing the CSV file, save it correctly to avoid issues during the upload process.
Ensure the file:

* Uses commas (`,`) or semicolons (`;`) as delimiters.
* Is saved in UTF-8 encoding.
* Doesn't contain extra formatting or unnecessary metadata.

To save a CSV file so it's compatible with the emnify Portal:

Select **File** > **Export To** > **CSV...**

Leave **Include table names** unselected.

Expand the **Advanced options** and select **Unicode (UTF-8)** in the **Text Encoding** dropdown menu.

Click **Next...**.

Name your file and select **Export**.

![](/_fern-img/be09825e303a67d9f68041becd2160c0d040ea9b85648d45d0d3d3c6dadb0e16.webp)

> **Info**
>
> The exported CSV file has semicolons (`;`) as delimiters instead of commas.

### LibreOffice Calc

LibreOffice Calc is a free and open source spreadsheet application.
It's an alternative to Microsoft Excel and commonly used on Linux systems.

> **Note**
>
> Overall, LibreOffice Calc is compatible with CSV files from the emnify Portal as long as you change the ICCID field type from **Standard** to **Text** during the import process.

#### Edit CSV files in LibreOffice Calc

For bulk device renaming, you need two columns in your CSV file:

1. **ICCID**: The unique identifier for each device (maximum length: 22 characters)
2. **Device Name**: The new name you want to assign to each device (maximum length: 45 characters)

Other format requirements include:

* Maximum file size: 400 KB
* Maximum rows: 2000
* Naming conventions: Device names can't contain commas `,` or semicolons `;` as those are used as delimiters in the CSV file.

To edit a CSV file you downloaded from the emnify Portal:

Open the CSV file.

Remove unnecessary columns, keeping only **ICCID** and **Device Name**.

Enter the desired names in the **Device Name** column.

#### Save CSV files in LibreOffice Calc

After editing the CSV file, save it correctly to avoid issues during the upload process.
Ensure the file:

* Uses commas (`,`) or semicolons (`;`) as delimiters.
* Is saved in UTF-8 encoding.
* Doesn't contain extra formatting or unnecessary metadata.

To save a CSV file so it's compatible with the emnify Portal:

Select **File** > **Save As**

Select **CSV** and confirm UTF-8 encoding and comma delimiters.

### Plain text editors

You can use text editors like Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (macOS), or Vim/gedit (Linux) to view the raw CSV data.
Avoid editing directly unless you're confident in maintaining the correct format.

If you do edit the CSV data using a plain text editor, ensure each line follows the pattern: `ICCID,Device Name`.
For example:

```txt
89123456789012345678,Device A
89123456789012345679,Device B
```

## Upload the CSV file to the emnify Portal

For the upload steps and the limits, see the guide for the bulk action you're performing:

* [Assign EIDs to eSIM profiles](/portal/how-tos/consumer-esim/assign-eids#assign-eids-in-bulk)
* [Rename devices in bulk](/portal/how-tos/rename-devices-in-bulk)