"Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

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Posted on 18 Sep 2021 00:03:07 by iroprish Microsoft Employee

"Get file content" and "Get file content with path" actions (SharePoint based) became to change the encoding of the file. It wasn't like this 2 weeks ago. Looks like a bug to me.
Original file:

Flow:

Result:

😞

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MA-11041301-0 2 on 23 May 2025 at 17:01:40

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"Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

With the help of CU06031955-0 5 on 06 Mar 2025 at 21:58:28

Create a Compose with this Input:

concat(uriComponentToString('%EF%BB%Bf'),setProperty(outputs('Get_file_content')?['body'], '$content-type', 'application/octet-stream;charset=Windows-1251'))

Or just be sure to use utf-8 encoding!

Convert the CSV to UTF-8 before processing:

Open the file in Excel → Save As → Choose CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*.csv).

Re-upload the file to SharePoint/OneDrive and retry the flow.
CU06031955-0 5 on 06 Mar 2025 at 19:58:28

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"Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

I just ran into this problem but it was similar to something I solved before.

The expression that seems to fix this is:

binary(setProperty(body('Get_file_content_using_path'), '$content-type', 'octet/stream;charset=windows-1252'))

I don't really understand why "charset=windows-1252" works but "charset=utf-8" does not. but this expression solved it for me.
Linn9000 4 on 13 Nov 2023 at 14:05:02

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

I had the same issue in a somewhat different case (copying a CSV file from SFTP to Sharepoint). CSV file wasn't the same after copying.

To fix the CSV issues, i set "Infer Content Type" to "No". After this, my CSV encoding stayed the same
rommelrueco 2 on 18 Oct 2023 at 02:29:10

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

You have to update the value of the File Content field in the "Upload File" task.
From: File Content
To: concat(uriComponentToString('%EF%BB%BF'),body('Get_file_content'))

Note:
You can type the updated value by clicking the "Expression" tab.
You can get the value of body('Get_file_content') by clicking the "Dynamic Content" tab and selecting the "File Content"

Explanation:
.csv file is a kind of text file. If you encode it in UTF-8 format, there are two ways to save it.
- Text only
- Byte Order Mark(BOM)+Text
BOM is 3 characters (EF BB BF) to mark the file is encoded as UTF-8.
When you generate .csv file in Power Automate, it does not include BOM.
So, when you open the .csv file in excel, special characters (i.e. Korean) will be broken.
The solution is to add 3 BOM characters in front of the .csv file content before saving it.

Let me know if this works. It is working fine using the "Create File" task. I haven't tested using the "Upload File" task.
Rommel Rueco
murbanik 2 on 11 Jan 2023 at 13:56:07

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

Anyone?
Community Power Pla... on 30 Nov 2022 at 13:03:16

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

It doesn't solve the problema in an automated way. I have a flow that read a csv file generated by a system, I cannot manually fix the file every time.

Is there another way to fix this?
Seabass 4 on 07 Apr 2022 at 13:32:39

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

Same issue here!
ingmar 2 on 11 Jan 2022 at 16:26:13

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

I'm having the same issue when getting .txt files from an FTP and save it to Sharepoint
the file on the FTP is encoded UTF-8 BOM when Power Automate get's the file content it shows the file content Binary

so now characters like é or ü or ï are now �
v-bofeng-msft on 20 Sep 2021 at 07:55:19

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

Hi @iroprish :

This Post may be similar to the situation you encountered, you may need to Use UTF-8 mode to re-import the file:

Open Microsoft Excel

Click on the Data menu bar option.

3. Select the file

4.Choose UTF-8 Mode

The Result:

I think these links will help you a lot:

Create a .csv file that uses UTF-8 character encoding
How to import a .csv file that uses UTF-8 character encoding

If you want this problem to be completely resolved, I suggest you consider posting your needs in this forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Ideas/idb-p/MPAIdeas

Best Regards,

Bof
iroprish Microsoft Employee on 18 Sep 2021 at 00:06:34

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Re: "Get file content" changes the file encoding. How to fix?

I tried to use .xlsx output type instead of .csv. Also didn't work.