Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: CSV new-line character seen in unquoted field error

CSV new-line character seen in unquoted field error

Quick Answer: Use the `universal_newlines` parameter when opening the CSV file to handle Windows-style line endings.

The CSV new-line character seen in unquoted field error occurs when the CSV file imported from a Windows machine contains unquoted fields with new-line characters. This issue affects all users who import files from Windows machines.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents the CSV data from being properly parsed and processed. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to resolve this issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The root cause of this error is the presence of unquoted fields in the CSV file. When the CSV file is imported, the new-line characters are not properly handled, resulting in this error.
  • Another possible reason for this error could be the use of a non-standard CSV parser or incorrect settings.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Opening the CSV file in universal-newline mode

  1. Step 1: To resolve this issue, open the CSV file in universal-newline mode. This can be done by adding the following line of code before reading the CSV file: `self.file = open(self.file, 'r', newline='')`.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can also use the `csv.reader` function with the `newline=''` parameter to prevent new-line characters from being added to the unquoted fields.
  3. Step 3: For example, you can modify the `read_file` method as follows: `file_read = csv.reader(self.file, newline='')`.

Using a CSV parser that handles new-line characters

  1. Step 1: Another solution is to use a CSV parser that specifically handles new-line characters. Some popular CSV parsers include `pandas.read_csv` and `csv.DictReader`.
  2. Step 2: For example, you can modify the `read_file` method as follows: `import pandas as pd; data = pd.read_csv(self.file)`.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the CSV new-line character seen in unquoted field error and import files from Windows machines without any issues. If you encounter further problems, please refer to our support resources for additional assistance.

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