JSON Unescape Tool

Convert escaped JSON strings back to readable text — instant client-side processing

What Is JSON Unescaping?

JSON unescaping is the reverse of escaping — it converts backslash-prefixed escape sequences in JSON strings back into their original characters. When you encounter a JSON string containing sequences like \n, \", \\, or \uXXXX, unescaping transforms those sequences into actual newlines, quote marks, backslashes, and Unicode characters respectively.

Developers frequently need to unescape JSON when reading log files that contain serialized JSON strings, when extracting text from API responses that double-encode string values, or when debugging data pipelines where JSON has been stringified multiple times. Without unescaping, the raw escaped text is difficult to read and impossible to use directly in contexts that expect plain text. Our tool handles all standard JSON escape sequences defined in RFC 8259 including the full range of Unicode escapes.

How to Unescape JSON Strings Online

1. Paste your escaped JSON string into the input editor
2. Click Unescape to convert all escape sequences to actual characters
3. Review the readable output with restored newlines, quotes, and special characters
4. Copy the unescaped text for use in your application, documentation, or further processing
5. Toggle between escaped and unescaped views to verify the conversion is correct

Why Use PinusX for JSON Unescaping?

PinusX converts your escaped strings using 100% client-side processing — your data never leaves your browser. This matters when unescaping strings from production logs, internal APIs, or debug output that may contain user credentials, tokens, or personally identifiable information. The security risk of pasting such data into server-based tools was underscored in November 2025, when jsonformatter.org leaked over 80,000 credentials that users had submitted for processing. PinusX processes everything locally in your browser tab, making it safe to unescape sensitive strings without exposing them to third-party infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What escape sequences does this tool handle?

The tool handles all JSON-standard escape sequences: \" (double quote), \\ (backslash), \/ (forward slash), \n (newline), \r (carriage return), \t (tab), \b (backspace), \f (form feed), and \uXXXX (Unicode code points). It also handles surrogate pairs for characters outside the Basic Multilingual Plane.

How do I unescape doubly-escaped JSON?

If your JSON string has been escaped twice (e.g., \\n instead of \n), run the unescape operation twice. The first pass converts \\\ to \, and the second pass converts \n to an actual newline. Our tool clearly shows the output so you can determine if another pass is needed.

Can I unescape partial strings?

Yes. The tool processes whatever text you provide. You can paste a full JSON document, a single escaped string, or even a fragment. It will find and convert all recognized escape sequences in the input regardless of whether the surrounding structure is valid JSON.

What happens with invalid escape sequences?

If the input contains a backslash followed by a character that is not a recognized JSON escape, the tool preserves it as-is. This is safer than silently dropping characters, and lets you identify where non-standard escaping has been applied in your source data.

Your data never leaves your browser. 100% client-side processing.