Why isn't the error on the line Shopify reports?

A quote that's never closed makes the parser read the following lines as part of the same value, so the error surfaces later. The tool tracks quotes across the whole file and points to the line where the broken value starts.

I saved as CSV UTF-8 and it still fails. Why?

Then it's a quote problem. Look for a value containing " that isn't wrapped in quotes (inch marks are the usual culprit) or text pasted from Word with curly quotes.

Will the fix change my product descriptions?

Only the quoting changes, not the text. Curly quotes inside a value, such as “The Band”, stay as they are, because Shopify accepts them.

How much does it cost?

Checking a file and previewing the fixes is free. Downloading the fixed file is free up to 50 rows. A larger file costs 1 credit, and for 24 hours you can download the same file again in another format or encoding at no extra cost. No subscription needed; agencies that fix files every month can choose Pro: 300 files a month for $19.

Fix "Illegal quoting in line" in a Shopify CSV

Exact error message

Illegal quoting on line

Shopify shows "Illegal quoting on line N" when it can't read a row of your CSV. The two causes are a file that isn't saved as UTF-8, usually after editing in Excel, and a quote character in the wrong place. Drop the file below: the tool finds the line, converts the file to UTF-8 and repairs the quotes.

Wording and rules verified on October 28, 2026

Drop a CSV or Excel file hereChoose a fileCSV, TXT, TSV, XLSX or XML · up to 100,000 rowsWe'll look for: Stray quote character

Fixed in your browser – your file never leaves your device.

Files over 50 rows: 1 credit each ($0.75–$1 depending on pack), no subscription · See prices

Several files? Select or drop them together to fix them all at once.

No file handy? Try a broken sample

Sample files with typical import errors, loaded in your browser. Fixing and downloading them is free.

Why it happens

CSV wraps a value in straight double quotes when it contains a comma, a quote or a line break, and writes a quote inside such a value as two quotes (""). Shopify's parser is strict: when a row breaks that rule, it stops and reports the line.

The number is a line in the file, not a product number. It can point past the real problem, because a quote that's opened and never closed runs on into the following lines.

The file isn't UTF-8. Excel's plain "CSV (Comma delimited)" saves in your Windows code page, so characters such as é, ü, č or ™ become bytes Shopify treats as illegal. Shopify's help centre names this first.
A quote inside a value that isn't wrapped in quotes, such as 15" Laptop Sleeve.
A quote that's opened but never closed, which swallows the following lines into one cell.
Curly quotes (“ ”) used where CSV expects straight ones.
Invisible control characters pasted from a website or a PDF.

How to fix it manually

Excel

Open the file and look at the text around the reported line.
Choose File → Save As and pick "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*.csv)", not "CSV (Comma delimited)".
Excel quotes values correctly when it saves. Quote problems usually come from text edited outside Excel, in a text editor or a script.

Google Sheets

File → Import → Upload the CSV.
File → Download → Comma-separated values (.csv). Sheets always exports UTF-8 with correct quoting.

Notepad++ or another text editor

Encoding → Convert to UTF-8.
Go to the reported line (Ctrl+G) and look for a lone " or a curly quote.
Wrap the value in straight quotes and double every quote inside it: 15" Laptop Sleeve becomes "15"" Laptop Sleeve".

Before and after

Before

Handle,Title,Price
laptop-sleeve,15" Laptop Sleeve,29.90

After

Handle,Title,Price
laptop-sleeve,"15"" Laptop Sleeve",29.90

An inch mark inside a value that isn't quoted. Shopify rejects line 2. The fixed row wraps the value in quotes and doubles the inner one.

Fix it automatically

Detects the encoding (UTF-8, Windows-1250/1252, UTF-16 and others) and writes the file as UTF-8.
Finds stray, unclosed and curly quotes and shows the line Shopify would report.
Repairs the quoting and shows every change before and after.
Removes invisible control characters.

Checking and the preview are free. Downloads are free up to 50 rows; a larger file costs 1 credit.

Choose a file

The file is read and repaired inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded: only the row count and the platform are ever sent to us, so supplier prices and customer data stay private.