Developer
Encoders, converters & dev utilities
Base64 to Text (Decode) Converter
Decode a Base64 string back into readable text. Base64 (RFC 4648) is an encoding that represents arbitrary bytes using 64 printable ASCII characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, + and /), so text that was Base64-encoded to survive transport — in JSON, URLs, email headers, or data URIs — can be turned straight back into the original string. The bytes are decoded and interpreted as UTF-8, so accented and non-Latin characters round-trip correctly. Worked example: SGVsbG8= decodes to "Hello". Decoding runs entirely in your browser, so even sensitive strings never leave the page. Free, no login.
Base64 → text = decode the characters to bytes (RFC 4648), then read the bytes as UTF-8
- Byte-exact worked example: SGVsbG8= → bytes 48 65 6C 6C 6F → the text "Hello"
- Handles the "=" padding: a trailing = or == just marks how the final group was padded
- 100% client-side (atob + TextDecoder for correct UTF-8) — your string is never uploaded
- Base64 is not encryption: anyone can decode it, so it never hides or protects the text
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a Base64 string to text?
Paste the Base64 and the tool decodes the characters into bytes and interprets those bytes as UTF-8 text. For instance SGVsbG8= decodes to Hello. It uses atob plus a TextDecoder in your browser so multi-byte characters (accents, emoji, non-Latin scripts) come back correctly, and nothing is sent to a server.
What is the "=" at the end of a Base64 string?
It is padding. Base64 works in groups of 4 characters representing 3 bytes; when the input length is not a multiple of 3, the final group is padded with one = (2 leftover bytes) or two == (1 leftover byte). So SGVsbG8= has a single = because the word "Hello" is 5 bytes and the last group encodes just one byte. The padding is not part of the data — it only tells the decoder how many real bytes the last group holds.
Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?
No — and this matters. Base64 is a reversible encoding, not encryption: it has no key and anyone can decode it instantly (as this tool demonstrates). It provides zero confidentiality, so you must never use it to "hide" passwords, tokens, or secrets. To actually protect data you have to encrypt it. Base64 only makes binary data safe to transport as text.