About the TSV Column Swapper
When two columns of a tab-separated table are in the wrong order for the system that will read them, swapping them is the smallest fix. Paste the table, name the two columns by number or heading and they trade places in every row, including the heading. Nothing else moves. The tab is the only separator the tool looks for, so commas inside cells cannot confuse it. The work is done in your browser and the table is not uploaded anywhere.
Updated October 2026
How to use the TSV Column Swapper
- 1Paste your TSV into the left box.
- 2Enter the first column, by number or heading.
- 3Enter the second column.
- 4Keep the header option ticked if the first row names the columns.
- 5Copy the result or download it.
A small fix with big effects
Order matters to importers that read by position. A table whose columns are a little different from the template can fill the wrong fields silently. A swap corrects one pair without the risk of retyping.
For coordinates, it flips between latitude-first and longitude-first conventions.
Number or heading
Headings are easier to remember; numbers start at 1 and suit tables with a duplicate heading. You may mix one of each.
Verify
Compare the first line of the output with your target's sample. If a second pair also needs swapping, run the tool again on the result.
Examples
A table with the columns first, last and city becomes last, first and city when you swap 1 and 2. The heading row changes too, so the labels stay with their data. Swapping a column with itself changes nothing, and the tool says so.
Because the swap is done on the text, dates, long numbers and leading zeros are untouched.
Phone and computer
On a phone, paste into the box, adjust the two columns, and tap Copy to carry the result into another app. On a computer you can also download it as a file. The two boxes sit side by side on a wide screen and one above the other on a narrow one, so you can compare input and result without zooming. Nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.
Good to know
The swap works on whole columns, so every row changes together. Rows that are shorter than the others are padded with empty cells first, so a missing value cannot shift the columns out of line. If you name a heading that appears twice, the first one is used; give the number instead when you need the second.
The result keeps the tab separator, which means you can paste it straight back into Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers and each value lands in its own cell. For a table that is hundreds of thousands of lines long, a computer will be quicker than a phone, but the logic is the same on both. Keep your original table until you have confirmed that the importer accepts the new one. For comma files use the CSV Column Swapper, and the TSV Transpose Tool turns rows into columns.
Features
- Swap any two columns
- Choose by number or heading
- Headings move with their columns
- Tab separator is fixed
- All other columns stay put
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I swap two columns in a TSV file?
Paste the table, type the two columns and copy the result.
Can I swap by heading?
Yes, if the first row holds headings. Type them as written.
Does it change the other columns?
No. Only the two you named exchange places.
What if I need a completely new order?
Use the TSV Column Extractor and list the columns in the order you want.
Why swap columns at all?
Many importers read by position, so a swapped first and last name or latitude and longitude lands in the wrong field.
Is my table uploaded?
No. The swap happens in your browser.