Convert JSON to Excel Instantly

Got a messy JSON file? Don't worry! I show you how to make it a happy Excel table. It is easy, I promise.

My friend, she is a programmer. One day, she send me a file. My computer say, "What is this? I do not know this." I try to open it with Notepad. Oh my gosh. It was a wall of text. So many curly brackets { } and quote marks " and commas. It look like a secret code. A very, very messy secret code.

She said to me, "It's a JSON file. It is simple!"

Simple? For her, maybe! For me, it was a headache. I am a person who likes things neat. I like rows and columns. I like my old friend, Microsoft Excel. In Excel, everything has a home. Data sits in a nice little box. But this JSON file... its data was running wild all over the page.

I just wanted to see the information in a nice, clean table. I needed to do a json to excel transformation. This started my big journey. A journey to tame the wild JSON monster and put it in a friendly Excel cage. And today, I want to share this journey with you. So if you ever get a scary file like I did, you will not worry. You will know exactly what to do.

First, What is this JSON Thing?

Before we fight the monster, we should know its name. What is JSON?

Don't worry, I will not give you a big, boring definition. Let's think of it like a shopping list.

Imagine you write a shopping list like this:

• Fruit: Apple

• Color: Red

• How many: 5

• Fruit: Banana

• Color: Yellow

• How many: 10

This is easy to read, yes? JSON is a little bit like this, but for computers. A computer would write that same list in a special way. It would look something like this:

[
  {
    "Fruit": "Apple",
    "Color": "Red",
    "How many": 5
  },
  {
    "Fruit": "Banana",
    "Color": "Yellow",
    "How many": 10
  }
]

You see? It has the same information. "Fruit" is the "key," and "Apple" is the "value." It's a key-value pair. It's just dressed up in a computer costume with brackets and quotes. It is a very popular way for websites and apps to talk to each other. But for a human who just want to see the data, it is not so friendly.

And Excel? Excel is like a beautiful, clean table for our shopping list.

Look at that! So nice. So organized. This is why we need to convert json to excel. We are translating from computer language to human language. We want to turn that messy code into a pretty json to excel table.

Why You Really, Really Want to Convert JSON to Excel

Maybe you are thinking, "Okay, but why is it so important?" I tell you from my heart.

• It is Easy to Read: Like we saw, a table is just… comfortable for our eyes. You can scan down a column and see all the fruits. You can scan across a row and see everything about the apple. With JSON, your eyes have to jump all over the page. My eyes, they get tired!

• Everyone Understands Excel: If you send a JSON file to your boss, or your mom, or a client who is not a tech person, they might get confused. They might think you sent them a virus! But if you send an Excel file, everyone knows what to do. They click, it opens, they see the table. It is a universal language for business people. The conversion of json to excel makes sharing so much easier.

• You Can Do Things with It! This is the best part. Once your data is in Excel, you can use all of Excel’s magic. You can:

  • Sort your data from A to Z.

  • Filter to see only the red fruits.

  • Make charts and beautiful graphs to show how many bananas you have.

  • Calculate things, like the total number of fruits.

  • You cannot make a pie chart from a messy text file!

• It is Good for Teamwork: When data is in an Excel sheet, your whole team can look at it. They can add comments. They can update a number. It is a shared space for understanding. A JSON file is more like a one-way message from a computer.

So, the journey from json to excel is not just about making things look pretty. It is about making data useful for normal people like you and me.

Method 1: The Super Easy Way - Online Converter Tools!

This is my favorite method. It is like a magic button on the internet. It is perfect for when you are in a hurry and you just want the job done.

These tools are websites where you can paste your JSON code, and they spit out an Excel file. So simple! They are called json to excel converter websites.

Here is how you do it, step-by-step:

1. Find your JSON text. Open your .json file with a simple text editor (like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac). Select everything (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A) and copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C).

2. Go to Google. Search for "convert json to excel online". You will see many, many options. Do not be scared. Most of them work the same way. Pick one that looks simple and friendly.

3. Find the big empty box. On the website, there will be a big text box. It might say "Paste your JSON here" or something similar. Click inside that box and paste your code (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V).

4. Look for the magic button. There will be a button that says "Convert," or "Download Excel," or "JSON to Excel." Click that button.

5. Wait a little bit. The website will think for a few seconds. It is doing the hard work for you. It is reading all the brackets and commas and making a nice table.

6. Download your file! A download link will appear. Click it, and an Excel file (.xlsx or maybe .csv) will be saved to your computer. A convert json to csv excel file is also good because Excel can open it perfectly.

7. Open and celebrate! Open the downloaded file in Excel. You will see your beautiful, organized table. All the messy code is gone! You did it!

A Little Warning (My Honest Advice):

Online converters are amazing. They are fast and free. But, you must be a little careful.

• Privacy: When you paste your data into a website, you are giving your data to that website. If your JSON file has secret information—like customer names, passwords, or secret company numbers—DO NOT use a public online converter. It's like shouting your secrets in a crowded room. For private data, you must use a different method.

• Big Files: Some online tools have a limit on the file size. If your JSON file is very, very big (like a giant book), the website might say "No, this is too much for me."

• Internet: You need to be connected to the internet to use these websites.

For most small, non-secret files, the online json file to excel conversion is the best and fastest way.

Method 2: The Brave Way - Using Excel’s Secret Power!

Okay, are you feeling a bit adventurous? Do you want to feel like a data wizard? You can do the conversion right inside Excel! No website needed. This is the best way for big files or secret data because the data never leaves your computer.

Excel has a hidden superpower called Power Query. It sounds scary, but I will walk you through it. It’s like a secret door to a magic room where you can clean up and organize data.

This is how to open json file in excel the professional way.

Here are the steps for the adventure:

1. Open a fresh, new Excel workbook. Just a clean, blank page.

2. Find the "Data" Tab. At the very top of Excel, you see tabs like "File," "Home," "Insert." Click on the one that says "Data."

3. Go on a Treasure Hunt. In the Data tab, look for a section on the left. It might be called "Get & Transform Data" or "Get Data." Click the "Get Data" button. A menu will open.

4. Follow the Path. From that menu, choose "From File." Another menu will open. In that menu, choose "From JSON."

5. Find Your File. Excel will now ask you, "Where is this JSON file?" A window will pop up. Find your .json file on your computer, click on it, and then click "Import."

6. Enter the Magic Room (Power Query Editor). A new, big window will pop up. This is the Power Query Editor. Do not be afraid! It looks complicated, but we only need to click two or three buttons. You will probably see your data looking a bit strange, maybe with the word "Record" or "List" repeated. This is normal.

7. The First Magic Click. At the top of this window, you will see a button that says "Into Table." Click it. A small box might pop up asking for details. Just click "OK." You don't need to change anything.

8. The Second, Most Important Magic Click! Now you will see a column, probably named "Column1." At the top of this column, in the header, there is a little button with two arrows pointing away from each other. It looks like this: [↔]. This is the "Expand" button. It is the most important button in our whole adventure. Click this button.

9. Choose Your Columns. A new box will appear with a list of all the "keys" from your JSON file (like "Fruit," "Color," "How many"). Make sure they are all checked. Also, uncheck the little box at the bottom that says "Use original column name as prefix." This just keeps your column names clean. Then click "OK."

10. Tada! Suddenly, your messy data will transform into a beautiful, clean table right in front of your eyes! You will see all your columns and all your rows, perfectly organized.

11. Go Home. Now that the data is perfect, look at the top-left corner of the Power Query window. There is a big button that says "Close & Load." Click it.

The Power Query window will close, and you will be back in your normal Excel sheet. But it is not empty anymore! It has a brand new sheet with your perfect table of data.

You are now a Power Query wizard! This is the best way for how to convert json into excel when you want to be safe and professional. It feels a little complicated the first time, but after you do it once, you will feel so powerful.

What About Going the Other Way? Excel to JSON?

Sometimes, the world is backwards. My programmer friend, she sometimes needs data from me. And she doesn't want an Excel file. She wants a JSON file! So sometimes, we need to do the reverse: convert excel to json.

The good news is, it's very similar.

The easiest way is again to use an online tool. You can search for "convert excel to json online".

On these websites, you will usually upload your Excel file. The website will read your table, with its rows and columns, and it will write the messy-looking (but computer-friendly) JSON code for you. You can then copy this code or download it as a .json file.

This is not something I do very often, but it is good to know it is possible. It’s like learning how to say "goodbye" after you learn how to say "hello." It completes the conversation between Excel and JSON. The process is a simple excel to json reversal of what we learned.

My Personal Tips for a Happy Conversion

After doing this many times, I have learned a few little secrets. I want to share them with you, from me to you.

• Check your JSON first. Sometimes, a JSON file has a small mistake in it. Maybe a comma is missing, or a bracket is in the wrong place. This can make the conversion fail. Before you convert, you can use a "JSON Validator" online. You paste your code, and it tells you if the code is "Valid" (good) or "Invalid" (bad). If it's bad, it will often show you where the mistake is.

• Start with a small piece. If you have a huge JSON file, and you are trying the Power Query method for the first time, it can be scary. So, open the file in a text editor, copy just the first few records (maybe the first 10 or 20 lines), and save that as a new, small test file. Practice the conversion with the small file first. Once you are comfortable, you can do it with the big one.

• Be patient. If the file is big, both the online tool and Excel's Power Query might need a minute to think. Don't click the button a hundred times. Just give it a moment to do its magic. Get a cup of tea.

• Don't be afraid to experiment! The first time I used Power Query, I clicked the wrong button. Nothing bad happened. I just closed the window without saving and started again. It's okay to make mistakes. That is how we learn.

You Are Now a Converter!

That's it. That is the whole secret. The scary monster of JSON is not so scary anymore, is it?

You have two powerful weapons now. For quick and easy jobs, you have the online json to excel converter. And for the big, important, or secret jobs, you have the Power Query wizard skills right inside Excel.

The next time someone sends you a .json file, you will not feel that little panic I felt. You will smile. You will say, "I know what to do." You can take that computer code and turn it into a beautiful, useful, and friendly table that everyone can understand.

You are no longer just an Excel user. You are a data tamer. A translator. A bridge between the world of code and the world of people.

Happy converting, my friend!

Related Questions and Answers (QNA)

Here are some questions people often ask. I try to answer them in a simple way.

1. What is the very fastest way for json to excel conversion?

The fastest way is to use an online converter tool. You just copy your JSON text, paste it on the website, click a button, and download your Excel file. So fast!

2. Is it safe to convert json to excel online?

It is safe for data that is not secret. For example, product lists or public information. But if you have private customer data or financial numbers, it is better to use Excel's Power Query so the data stays on your computer.

3. Can I convert a very large JSON file?

Yes! For very large files, the best method is to use Power Query inside Excel (the "Data > Get Data > From File > From JSON" method). Online tools might have a size limit, but Excel can handle much bigger files.

4. What is a JSON file anyway?

Think of it as a way for computers to store and send information. It uses "keys" and "values" (like "Name": "Maria") in a text format. It's easy for computers to read, but not so easy for humans.

5. Why do people use JSON instead of Excel?

Programmers and web developers use it because it is lightweight and works very well with web applications and APIs. It is the language of the modern web.

6. Do I need special software for the conversion of json to excel?

No! You either use a free website (an online converter) or you use Microsoft Excel itself, which you probably already have. No special software is needed.

7. What if my JSON data is nested (has layers)?

Power Query in Excel is very good at this! When you click the "Expand" [↔] button, it will show you the first layer. If one of those new columns also has a "Record" or "List," it will have its own expand button. You just keep clicking expand until all the data is in its own column.

8. Can I convert from json to excel on a Mac computer?

Yes, of course! The online converter websites work on any computer with internet. And the new versions of Excel for Mac also have the Power Query feature (Get & Transform Data) to do it offline.

9. My online converter gave me a .csv file. Is that okay?

Yes, a .csv file is perfect. CSV means "Comma Separated Values." It is a very simple type of table. You can open any .csv file with Excel, and it will look like a normal spreadsheet. It is a good result for a convert json to csv excel tool.

10. What is the difference between JSON and Excel?

JSON is an unstructured data format, like a list of notes in a text file. Excel is a structured format, with strict rows and columns in a grid. We convert from JSON to Excel to give that data structure.

11. How to open json file in excel without converting?

You can't really "open" it directly like you open an .xlsx file. If you try, Excel might show you a strange import wizard that doesn't work well. The correct way is to import it using the Power Query "Get Data" method.

12. Can I convert an Excel file back to a JSON file?

Yes. This is the excel to json process. The easiest way is to use an online tool that is made for this. You search for "convert excel to json online," upload your file, and it will generate the JSON code for you.

13. Why would I ever need to convert excel to json?

You might need to if you are working with a programmer or a web developer. They might need the data in JSON format to use in their application or website.

14. My JSON has many objects in an array. How does that work?

That is perfect for Excel! The array [ ] will become the table. Each object { } inside the array will become one row in your Excel sheet. The keys inside the object will become the column headers.

15. My conversion failed. What did I do wrong?

The most common reason is that the JSON is "invalid." This means there is a small error, like a missing comma or bracket. Try copying your JSON code into an online "JSON Validator" to check for errors first.

16. Does the order of keys in JSON matter for the conversion?

No, it does not matter. When you convert from json to excel, the tool will create columns for all the keys it finds. The order of columns in Excel might be alphabetical or based on the first object, but all your data will be there.

17. What does "parsing" a JSON file mean?

"Parsing" is a computer word that means reading and understanding the file's structure. When a json to excel converter works, it is parsing the JSON to understand where all the keys and values are before it builds the table.

18. Can I schedule a json file to excel conversion to happen automatically?

Yes, but this is a more advanced technique. Using Power Query in Excel, you can set up a "refresh" schedule. This means Excel can automatically check the JSON file (if it's on the web or a shared drive) and update the table with new data.

19. What is the best free json to excel converter?

There are many good, free online converters. It is hard to name just one "best" one. I suggest you search online and try two or three to see which one you find easiest to use.

20. I still don't understand. Can you make it even simpler?

Of course! Imagine JSON is a pile of Lego bricks in a bag (messy but has all the pieces). Excel is a beautiful Lego house you build with those bricks (organized and useful). The conversion process is you, taking the bricks from the bag and building the house. You can do it