How do I open a JSON file on Windows or Mac?

Any text editor can open a JSON file: VS Code, Notepad++ on Windows, or TextEdit on Mac. Right-click the file and choose Open With, then select your editor. The file will display as formatted text. If you need to work with the data in a spreadsheet, convert it to Excel instead.

Can I open a JSON file in Excel directly?

Excel 365 has a basic JSON import (Data, Get Data, From File, From JSON), but it often struggles with nested objects, mixed types, and large IDs. A dedicated converter flattens nested fields into clean columns, preserves leading zeros and large numbers, and produces an .xlsx you can open immediately in Excel or Google Sheets.

Is there a free JSON file viewer online?

Yes, many online JSON viewers let you paste or upload JSON to see it formatted with collapsible nodes. However, if your goal is to filter, sort, or share the data, converting it to Excel gives you a spreadsheet you can work with directly - no viewer needed.

How do I convert a JSON file to Excel?

Open the free JSON to Excel converter, drop your .json file or paste the JSON text, preview the table to confirm columns look right, then click Download Excel. The .xlsx file opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc. Conversion runs entirely in your browser.

What is the difference between JSON and JSONL?

A .json file contains one JSON value, usually an object or array. A .jsonl (JSON Lines) file contains one JSON object per line, common in log files and database exports. Both formats are supported by the converter and produce the same spreadsheet layout: one row per record.

How to Open a JSON File (and What to Do With It)

Last updated: 20 June 2026

You downloaded a .json file from an API, a database export, or a web service - and now you are staring at it wondering how to actually use the data. This guide covers every way to open a JSON file, from quick viewing to converting it into a spreadsheet you can filter and share.

What is a JSON file?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text format for structured data. It is the standard format returned by REST APIs, exported by databases like MongoDB and Firebase, and used by tools like Postman. A JSON file has a .json extension and is human-readable plain text - curly braces for objects, square brackets for arrays, and key-value pairs for fields.

How to open a JSON file

There are several ways to open a JSON file, depending on what you want to do with it.

Text editor - VS Code, Notepad++, Sublime Text, or even the default Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). You can read and search the raw data, but you cannot sort, filter, or pivot.
Web browser - Drag the file into Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The browser renders the raw JSON text. Some browsers auto-format it; others show a single line.
Online JSON viewer - Paste your JSON into any online formatter to see it with collapsible nodes and syntax highlighting. Good for inspecting structure, but still just viewing.
Convert to Excel or Google Sheets - If you need to work with the data (filter, sort, pivot, share with colleagues), converting to a spreadsheet is the most practical option. The converter flattens nested objects into clean columns, handles API wrappers automatically, and produces an .xlsx file that opens anywhere.

When you should convert JSON to Excel instead of just viewing

Viewing JSON in a text editor works when you need to inspect a single record or debug an API response. But when your JSON contains hundreds or thousands of records - API exports, database dumps, analytics data, or GST return files - a text editor becomes impractical. Converting to Excel gives you sortable columns, filterable rows, and a format you can hand to anyone on your team. For details on the conversion process, see the step-by-step JSON to Excel guide.

What the converter does with your JSON file

Drop or paste your JSON, and the converter detects the structure automatically. Nested objects become dotted columns like user.address.city. API wrappers such as { "data": [...] } are stripped away to find the actual records. Arrays of simple values become comma-separated cells. Large numeric IDs (18-digit order numbers, Discord snowflake IDs) are preserved exactly without rounding. Dates stay as-is - no silent timezone shift or reformatting. For more on how nested JSON flattening and API response handling work, see those guides.

Common sources of JSON files

JSON files show up in many workflows. Here are the most common sources and the guide that covers each one:

REST API responses - see converting an API response to Excel
Postman exports - see Postman JSON to Excel
Database exports (MongoDB, Firebase) - see exporting database JSON to Excel
GST portal downloads (GSTR-1, 2A, 2B) - see GST JSON to Excel
Log files in NDJSON / JSONL format - see NDJSON and JSONL to Excel
Google Sheets import - see JSON to Google Sheets

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a JSON file on Windows or Mac?: Any text editor can open a JSON file: VS Code, Notepad++ on Windows, or TextEdit on Mac. Right-click the file and choose Open With, then select your editor. The file will display as formatted text. If you need to work with the data in a spreadsheet, convert it to Excel instead.
Can I open a JSON file in Excel directly?: Excel 365 has a basic JSON import (Data, Get Data, From File, From JSON), but it often struggles with nested objects, mixed types, and large IDs. A dedicated converter flattens nested fields into clean columns, preserves leading zeros and large numbers, and produces an .xlsx you can open immediately in Excel or Google Sheets.
Is there a free JSON file viewer online?: Yes, many online JSON viewers let you paste or upload JSON to see it formatted with collapsible nodes. However, if your goal is to filter, sort, or share the data, converting it to Excel gives you a spreadsheet you can work with directly - no viewer needed.
How do I convert a JSON file to Excel?: Open the free JSON to Excel converter, drop your .json file or paste the JSON text, preview the table to confirm columns look right, then click Download Excel. The .xlsx file opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc. Conversion runs entirely in your browser.
What is the difference between JSON and JSONL?: A .json file contains one JSON value, usually an object or array. A .jsonl (JSON Lines) file contains one JSON object per line, common in log files and database exports. Both formats are supported by the converter and produce the same spreadsheet layout: one row per record.

Related guides

See all guides or the FAQ.

Open and convert your JSON file to Excel →