What file types can I convert to Base64?

You can convert absolutely any file type to Base64 format—images (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG), documents (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, CSV), archives (ZIP, RAR, TAR), audio files (MP3, WAV, FLAC), video files (MP4, AVI, MOV), executables, databases, and more. Base64 encoding works at the binary level, converting raw bytes to text, so it handles all file formats equally. The encoded output is always a text string using A-Z, a-z, 0-9, plus sign, and forward slash characters, regardless of the original file type. This makes Base64 perfect for embedding binary files in JSON, XML, HTML, or transmitting files through text-based protocols.

How do I encode a file to Base64?

Click the upload area or drag and drop your file onto the page. The tool will immediately read the file, convert its binary content to Base64 format, and display the encoded text. You can then copy the Base64 string to your clipboard or download it as a text file. The encoding happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript—your file is never uploaded to any server. For large files, encoding may take a few seconds as the browser processes all the bytes. The tool shows file details including name, type, size, and the resulting Base64 string length.

Is there a file size limit for Base64 encoding?

There is no hard file size limit imposed by the tool, but practical browser memory limitations apply. Most modern browsers can handle files up to 100-500 MB without issues. Larger files may work but could cause your browser to slow down or run out of memory, especially on mobile devices. Base64 encoding increases file size by approximately 33%—a 10 MB file becomes about 13.3 MB of Base64 text. For very large files (over 1 GB), consider splitting them into smaller chunks and encoding each separately. The tool processes files entirely in browser memory, so available RAM determines the maximum practical file size.

Why would I encode a file to Base64 instead of Base32?

Encode files to Base64 when you need the most efficient text encoding. Base64 produces smaller output than Base32 (33% overhead vs 60% overhead) and is the industry standard for embedding binary data in web technologies. Use Base64 for data URIs in HTML/CSS, embedding images in JSON or XML APIs, storing binary data in databases that only support text, transmitting files through REST APIs, and email attachments (MIME encoding). Base64 is more efficient and widely supported than Base32, but uses case-sensitive characters (A-Z, a-z) and symbols (+, /) which may be problematic in some contexts. If you need human-readable encoding that can be manually typed, use Base32. For efficiency and standard compatibility, use Base64.

Can I encode large images and photos to Base64?

Yes! Upload any image file (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF, SVG) and the tool will convert it to Base64. The tool shows a preview of the image before encoding and displays the Base64 output. Keep in mind that images encoded to Base64 become approximately 33% larger—a 3 MB photo becomes about 4 MB of Base64 text. This is useful for creating data URIs to embed images in HTML or CSS, transmitting images through JSON APIs, storing images in text-based databases, creating self-contained HTML emails with embedded images, or embedding images in SVG files. After encoding, you can decode the Base64 string back to the original image using a Base64 to file decoder.

What does the Base64 output look like for a file?

The Base64 output is a long string of uppercase letters A-Z, lowercase letters a-z, digits 0-9, plus signs (+), and forward slashes (/), with optional equals signs (=) for padding at the end. For example, a small text file might encode to "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh" while a 100 KB image produces hundreds of thousands of characters. The output length is approximately 1.33 times the original file size in bytes. You can copy this entire string to clipboard, save it to a text file, use it as a data URI (data:image/png;base64,...), or transmit it through any text-based system. To recover the original file, you need to decode the Base64 string using a Base64 to file decoder, which converts the text back to the original binary data.

Is my file safe when using this encoder?

Yes, completely safe! All file encoding happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your file is never uploaded to any server, never transmitted over the internet, and never stored anywhere except temporarily in your browser memory. Once you close or refresh the page, all data is immediately cleared. This client-side approach ensures complete privacy—even the most sensitive files (financial documents, personal photos, private keys) can be safely encoded without leaving your device. However, remember that Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone with the Base64 string can decode it back to your original file.

Can I encode password-protected or encrypted files?

Yes! Base64 encoding works on the encrypted binary data. If you encode a password-protected ZIP file or an encrypted PDF, the Base64 output represents the encrypted file, not the decrypted contents. When you later decode the Base64 string back to a file, you get the original encrypted file, and you will still need the password to open it. Base64 encoding does not remove or bypass encryption—it simply converts binary data to text format. This is useful for transmitting encrypted files through text-only channels while maintaining their security. The encryption remains intact throughout the Base64 encoding and decoding process.

How do I get my original file back from Base64?

Use a Base64 to file decoder tool. Copy the entire Base64 string (including any equals sign padding at the end), paste it into a decoder, specify the original file type or name, and the decoder will convert the Base64 text back to the original binary file that you can download. The decoded file will be byte-for-byte identical to the original—same size, same content, same checksum. Make sure to copy the complete Base64 string without missing any characters, as even one missing character will make the file undecodable or corrupted. Store the Base64 text safely if you need to recover the file later.

What is the difference between encoding files vs encoding text?

Both use the same Base64 encoding algorithm, but files contain binary data while text contains character data. When encoding text, special characters and Unicode are preserved through UTF-8 encoding before Base64 conversion. When encoding files, the raw bytes are directly converted to Base64 without interpretation. For a text file, you can use either a text encoder or file encoder—both work, though the file encoder is more appropriate for preserving exact byte structure. For binary files (images, PDFs, executables), you must use a file encoder because they contain non-text bytes. The key difference is intent: text encoding assumes the output should be human-readable text after decoding, while file encoding preserves binary integrity.

File to Base64 Encoder Online

Convert any file to Base64 format instantly. Upload images, PDFs, documents, or any file type and encode to efficient Base64. 100% free, secure, and works in your browser.

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