How to convert Base64 to text

What Base64 represents

Base64 is a text-safe representation of binary bytes. It uses letters, digits, plus, slash, and optional equals-sign padding. It is common in data URLs, email attachments, API payloads, and configuration values.

How to convert Base64 to text

1. Copy only the Base64 payload. Remove a prefix such as data:text/plain;base64, if present.
2. Preserve meaningful characters and padding. Whitespace between wrapped lines can usually be ignored.
3. Decode the Base64 alphabet into bytes.
4. Interpret the bytes as UTF-8 text.

Paste the value into the ToolPixels Base64 to Text tool and select Decode text. It validates the input and decodes Unicode text in your browser.

Padding and invalid input

An equals sign at the end is padding used to complete a four-character Base64 group. Valid standard Base64 can end with no padding, one equals sign, or two. An equals sign in the middle, an impossible length, or characters outside the standard alphabet indicate malformed input.

URL-safe Base64 may use hyphen and underscore instead of plus and slash. Convert those characters or use a decoder that explicitly supports the URL-safe variant.

Encoding is not encryption

Base64 provides no secrecy. Anyone can decode it without a key. Do not treat passwords, private keys, access tokens, or personal data as protected merely because they are Base64 encoded.

If decoded bytes are not valid UTF-8, the source may be a file, compressed data, encrypted data, or text in another character encoding. A text decoder cannot reliably guess which one.

Common questions

Why does the result contain replacement characters?

The bytes may not form valid UTF-8, or the value may use a different encoding. Confirm the source format before converting.

Does decoding happen online?

The free ToolPixels Base64 to Text tool runs locally in your browser and does not upload or save the pasted value.

Decode Base64 to text