Input is rejected
remove surrounding quotes, confirm the Standard/URL-safe setting, check padding and verify that the value was not truncated.
Convert Base64 to UTF-8 text
Decode Base64 to UTF-8 text, review the restored output and copy or download it. Use the standard or URL-safe option required by the source.
Base64 utility · Fast, exact Base64 conversion
What this tool does
Paste the Base64 value and decode it to UTF-8 text. The tool returns the corresponding byte or text representation; it does not automatically validate, reformat or execute the result.
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Paste text or choose a file
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Choose an action
Encode, decode or inspect
3
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Review output and byte details
1. Input
0 characters
2. Action
3. Output
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4. Quick actions
5. Base64 information
DescriptionBase64 represents bytes as text; it is not encryption.
AlphabetA-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /, =
Input size0 characters / 0 bytes
Output size0 characters / 0 bytes
PaddingUses = to complete a four-character group.
StatusReady
How it works
Input bytes
101010 111100 110101 ...
Split into 6-bit groups
101010 111100 110101 ...
Convert to indexes
42 60 53 ...
Base64 characters
q 8 1 ...
How to convert Base64 to UTF-8 text
Paste the Base64 string you want to decode.
Keep Decode selected and choose Standard or URL-safe Base64 when the control is available.
Review the output and byte information, then copy or download the result.
Output and format behavior
Base64 bytes are interpreted as UTF-8 text. Arbitrary binary input may produce unreadable or replacement characters and should instead be inspected as hex or binary.
Use Standard Base64 for the normal RFC 4648 alphabet. Use URL-safe only when the receiving system expects Base64URL; padding rules can differ by protocol.
Expert tip
Compare byte count rather than character count when checking Base64 size; emoji and many non-Latin characters use multiple UTF-8 bytes.
When this is useful
Typical workflows include:
- Encode or recover multilingual UTF-8 text without treating visible characters as single bytes.
- Return encoded source to readable text for audit, code review or troubleshooting.
- Inspect or compare a small payload when the original representation is opaque or difficult to paste safely.
Limitations and safety
Important constraints:
- Base64 normally adds about one third to the byte payload, before any data-URL prefix or surrounding markup.
- Base64 is reversible encoding, not encryption. Anyone who receives the string can decode the original bytes.
- Text is converted through UTF-8 bytes. Character count and byte count can differ, especially for emoji and non-Latin scripts.
Troubleshooting
Decoded text is unreadable
the bytes may not be UTF-8 or may be binary. Inspect the same payload with the hex or binary page.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is preserved?
Base64 bytes are interpreted as UTF-8 text. Arbitrary binary input may produce unreadable or replacement characters and should instead be inspected as hex or binary.
How are Unicode characters handled?
Text is represented as UTF-8 bytes. A visible character may use multiple bytes, which is expected and affects the Base64 length.
What is the difference between standard Base64 and Base64URL?
Standard Base64 uses + and /. Base64URL uses - and _ and may omit padding; choose the form required by the receiving system.
Why is my Base64 input rejected?
Check for unsupported characters, a Standard/Base64URL mismatch, damaged padding or a truncated value. Also remove surrounding quotes that are not part of the payload.
Related Base64 tools
Continue with the localized page that matches the next operation:
Convert UTF-8 text to Base64Base64 Encoder and DecoderConvert Base64 to JSONConvert Base64 to decimal ASCII byte codes
Paste your input above, run the conversion, and copy or download the result.