Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Convert text to Base64 or decode a Base64 string back to readable text, with full Unicode support so emoji and non-Latin scripts survive the round trip.
Runs entirely in your browser, which makes it safe for tokens, credentials in config files and anything else you would rather not paste into a remote service.
How to use the base64 encoder & decoder
Paste your text or Base64 string.
Click Encode or Decode.
Copy the result.
Why use the Convert Now base64 encoder & decoder
Full Unicode
UTF-8 handling so emoji and any script round-trip correctly.
Both directions
Encode and decode in one tool.
Clear errors
Invalid Base64 is reported, not silently mangled.
Private
Safe for tokens and config data.
What Base64 is for
Base64 re-encodes arbitrary binary data using 64 characters that survive systems built for text. It exists because email, URLs, JSON, XML and HTTP headers were designed around text, and raw bytes passing through them get mangled. It is why email attachments, data: URLs and JWT payloads all look like long runs of letters and digits.
It is encoding, not encryption
This is the single most important thing to understand about Base64: anyone can decode it instantly, as this page demonstrates. It provides no security whatsoever. A password or API key in Base64 is a password in plain text with extra steps. The Authorization header in HTTP Basic auth is Base64 for transport reasons alone, which is exactly why it must only ever travel over HTTPS.
Size and the Unicode question
Base64 represents three bytes with four characters, so encoded data is about 33% larger than the original – worth remembering before inlining a large image as a data URL. For non-ASCII text, the string must first be converted to bytes; this tool uses UTF-8, the correct modern default, which is why accented characters, Arabic, Chinese and emoji all decode back exactly as you typed them.
Read the guide: How to Create a Strong Password (That You Can Remember)
Frequently asked questions
How do I encode text to Base64?
Paste your text and click Encode. The Base64 string appears below, ready to copy.
How do I decode a Base64 string?
Paste the Base64 and click Decode. Invalid input is reported rather than producing garbage.
Is Base64 encryption?
No. It is a reversible encoding with no key and no security. Anyone can decode it instantly.
Why is my Base64 longer than the original?
Base64 uses four characters for every three bytes, so encoded data is roughly 33% larger.
Does it support emoji and non-English text?
Yes. Text is converted to UTF-8 bytes first, so all Unicode round-trips correctly.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No, encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser.
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