Why do I need to decode Base64?

You need to decode Base64 to convert encoded data back to its original format. Common use cases include: reading email attachments, extracting embedded images from HTML/CSS, debugging API responses that return Base64 data, and analyzing data URIs.

What character encoding should I use?

UTF-8 is the most common encoding and works for most modern text data. Use ASCII for simple English text, ISO-8859-1 for Western European languages, Windows-1252 for Windows-generated content, and UTF-16 LE for certain Windows or Java applications.

Is this Base64 decoder secure?

Yes, our Base64 decoder is completely secure. All decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. No data is ever sent to our servers or stored anywhere. Your encoded data remains private on your device.

Can I decode Base64 files?

Yes, you can upload text files containing Base64 encoded data. Click 'Decode File', select your file, and the tool will read the Base64 content and decode it automatically. Supported file types include .txt and other text-based files.

Why am I getting garbled characters after decoding?

Garbled output usually indicates a character encoding mismatch. Try different encoding options until the text displays correctly. If the original data was encoded with ISO-8859-1 but you're decoding with UTF-8, special characters will appear incorrectly.

Base64 Decoder | Free Online Base64 to Text Converter

Q: What is Base64 encoding?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It's commonly used to encode binary data for transmission over text-based protocols like email (MIME) and to embed images or files in HTML/CSS.

What is Base64 Encoding?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into a sequence of 64 printable ASCII characters. It uses the characters A-Z, a-z, 0-9, plus (+) and slash (/), with equals (=) for padding. This encoding is essential for transmitting binary data over text-based protocols that may not handle binary data correctly.

Why Use Our Base64 Decoder?

Multiple Encodings: Supports UTF-8, ASCII, ISO-8859-1, Windows-1252, and UTF-16 LE
File Upload Support: Decode Base64 from uploaded text files
100% Private: All decoding happens in your browser - no data sent to servers
Instant Results: Real-time decoding with immediate feedback
Error Handling: Clear error messages for invalid Base64 input

Common Uses for Base64 Decoding

Email Attachments: Email protocols use Base64 to encode binary attachments. Decode them to view the original content.

Data URIs: Images and files embedded in HTML/CSS using data: URLs are Base64 encoded. Decode them to extract the original file.

API Responses: Many APIs return binary data as Base64 strings. Decode them to read the actual content.

JWT Tokens: JSON Web Tokens use Base64URL encoding for the header and payload. Decode them to inspect the claims.

Configuration Files: Some applications store secrets or binary data as Base64 in configuration files.

Understanding Character Encodings

UTF-8: The most common encoding for modern web content. Supports all Unicode characters.
ASCII: Basic 7-bit encoding for English text (128 characters).
ISO-8859-1 (Latin1): Extended ASCII for Western European languages (256 characters).
Windows-1252: Microsoft's superset of ISO-8859-1, common in Windows applications.
UTF-16 LE: 16-bit Unicode encoding used by Windows and Java internally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Base64 used for?

Base64 is used to safely transmit binary data through text-based systems like email, URLs, and JSON. It ensures data integrity when binary characters might be corrupted or misinterpreted.

Why is my decoded text showing strange characters?

This usually means the character encoding doesn't match the original. Try selecting a different encoding from the dropdown. UTF-8 works for most modern content.

Is Base64 encryption?

No, Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It provides no security - anyone can decode Base64 data. For security, use proper encryption algorithms before Base64 encoding.

What makes a valid Base64 string?

Valid Base64 contains only A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and / characters, with optional = padding at the end. The length should be a multiple of 4 (with padding).