diff --git a/ftl/core/importing.ftl b/ftl/core/importing.ftl
index 6323ca602..30cbe5c8d 100644
--- a/ftl/core/importing.ftl
+++ b/ftl/core/importing.ftl
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ importing-appeared-twice-in-file = Appeared twice in file: { $val }
 importing-by-default-anki-will-detect-the = By default, Anki will detect the character between fields, such as a tab, comma, and so on. If Anki is detecting the character incorrectly, you can enter it here. Use \t to represent tab.
 importing-change = Change
 importing-colon = Colon
+importing-column = Column { $val }
 importing-comma = Comma
 importing-empty-first-field = Empty first field: { $val }
 importing-field-mapping = Field mapping
diff --git a/proto/anki/import_export.proto b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
index 54738c113..793338163 100644
--- a/proto/anki/import_export.proto
+++ b/proto/anki/import_export.proto
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ service ImportExportService {
       returns (generic.Empty);
   rpc ImportAnkiPackage(ImportAnkiPackageRequest) returns (ImportResponse);
   rpc ExportAnkiPackage(ExportAnkiPackageRequest) returns (generic.UInt32);
+  rpc GetCsvMetadata(CsvMetadataRequest) returns (CsvMetadata);
   rpc ImportCsv(ImportCsvRequest) returns (ImportResponse);
   rpc ImportJson(generic.String) returns (ImportResponse);
 }
@@ -109,6 +110,20 @@ message ImportCsvRequest {
   int64 deck_id = 2;
   int64 notetype_id = 3;
   repeated CsvColumn columns = 4;
-  string delimiter = 5;
+  uint32 delimiter = 5;
   bool allow_html = 6;
 }
+
+message CsvMetadataRequest {
+  string path = 1;
+  optional uint32 delimiter = 2;
+}
+
+message CsvMetadata {
+  uint32 delimiter = 1;
+  string tags = 2;
+  repeated string columns = 3;
+  int64 deck_id = 4;
+  int64 notetype_id = 5;
+  optional bool html = 6;
+}
diff --git a/pylib/anki/collection.py b/pylib/anki/collection.py
index f39911f11..aefd50b35 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/collection.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/collection.py
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class Collection(DeprecatedNamesMixin):
         deck_id: DeckId,
         notetype_id: NotetypeId,
         columns: list[CsvColumn],
-        delimiter: str,
+        delimiter: int,
         allow_html: bool,
     ) -> ImportLogWithChanges:
         return self._backend.import_csv(
diff --git a/qt/aqt/import_export/import_dialog.py b/qt/aqt/import_export/import_dialog.py
index 186b0d541..9e2e6056a 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/import_export/import_dialog.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/import_export/import_dialog.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class ImportDialog(QDialog):
             d = repr(d)
         txt = tr.importing_fields_separated_by(val=d)
         self.frm.autoDetect.setText(txt)
-        self.delim = d
+        self.delim = ord(d)
 
     def accept(self) -> None:
         # self.mw.pm.profile["importMode"] = self.importer.importMode
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs b/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
index 105deb0ca..86c13e8ef 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/import_export.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ impl ImportExportService for Backend {
         .map(Into::into)
     }
 
+    fn get_csv_metadata(&self, input: pb::CsvMetadataRequest) -> Result<pb::CsvMetadata> {
+        let delimiter = input.delimiter.map(try_into_byte).transpose()?;
+        self.with_col(|col| col.get_csv_metadata(&input.path, delimiter))
+    }
+
     fn import_csv(&self, input: pb::ImportCsvRequest) -> Result<pb::ImportResponse> {
         self.with_col(|col| {
             col.import_csv(
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ impl ImportExportService for Backend {
                 input.deck_id.into(),
                 input.notetype_id.into(),
                 input.columns.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect(),
-                byte_from_string(&input.delimiter)?,
+                try_into_byte(input.delimiter)?,
                 //input.allow_html,
             )
         })
@@ -146,8 +151,7 @@ impl From<CsvColumn> for Column {
     }
 }
 
-fn byte_from_string(s: &str) -> Result<u8> {
-    s.bytes()
-        .next()
-        .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("empty string"))
+fn try_into_byte(u: impl TryInto<u8>) -> Result<u8> {
+    u.try_into()
+        .map_err(|_| AnkiError::invalid_input("expected single byte"))
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
similarity index 96%
rename from rslib/src/import_export/text/csv.rs
rename to rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
index ee7e2b06f..25bfe2fba 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/import.rs
@@ -8,19 +8,12 @@ use std::{
 
 use crate::{
     import_export::{
-        text::{ForeignData, ForeignNote},
+        text::{csv::Column, ForeignData, ForeignNote},
         NoteLog,
     },
     prelude::*,
 };
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
-pub enum Column {
-    Field(usize),
-    Ignore,
-    Tags,
-}
-
 impl Collection {
     pub fn import_csv(
         &mut self,
@@ -66,6 +59,8 @@ fn deserialize_csv(
 /// Returns a reader with the first line stripped if it starts with "tags:",
 /// which is allowed for historic reasons.
 fn reader_without_tags_line(reader: impl Read + Seek) -> Result<impl Read> {
+    // FIXME: shouldn't pass a buffered reader to csv
+    // https://docs.rs/csv/latest/csv/struct.ReaderBuilder.html#method.from_reader
     let mut buf_reader = BufReader::new(reader);
     let mut first_line = String::new();
     buf_reader.read_line(&mut first_line)?;
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1bc951a4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/metadata.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use std::{
+    fs::File,
+    io::{BufRead, BufReader},
+};
+
+use crate::{backend_proto::CsvMetadata, error::ImportError, prelude::*};
+
+impl Collection {
+    pub fn get_csv_metadata(&mut self, path: &str, delimiter: Option<u8>) -> Result<CsvMetadata> {
+        let reader = BufReader::new(File::open(path)?);
+        self.get_reader_metadata(reader, delimiter)
+    }
+
+    fn get_reader_metadata(
+        &mut self,
+        reader: impl BufRead,
+        delimiter: Option<u8>,
+    ) -> Result<CsvMetadata> {
+        let mut metadata = CsvMetadata::default();
+        let line = self.parse_meta_lines(reader, &mut metadata)?;
+        set_delimiter(delimiter, &mut metadata, &line);
+        set_columns(&mut metadata, &line, &self.tr)?;
+        Ok(metadata)
+    }
+
+    /// Parses the meta head of the file, and returns the first content line.
+    fn parse_meta_lines(
+        &mut self,
+        mut reader: impl BufRead,
+        metadata: &mut CsvMetadata,
+    ) -> Result<String> {
+        let mut line = String::new();
+        reader.read_line(&mut line)?;
+        if self.parse_first_line(&line, metadata) {
+            line.clear();
+            reader.read_line(&mut line)?;
+            while self.parse_line(&line, metadata) {
+                line.clear();
+                reader.read_line(&mut line)?;
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(line)
+    }
+
+    /// True if the line is a meta line, i.e. a comment, or starting with 'tags:'.
+    fn parse_first_line(&mut self, line: &str, metadata: &mut CsvMetadata) -> bool {
+        if let Some(tags) = line.strip_prefix("tags:") {
+            metadata.tags = tags.trim().to_owned();
+            true
+        } else {
+            self.parse_line(line, metadata)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// True if the line is a comment.
+    fn parse_line(&mut self, line: &str, metadata: &mut CsvMetadata) -> bool {
+        if let Some(l) = line.strip_prefix('#') {
+            if let Some((key, value)) = l.split_once(':') {
+                self.parse_meta_value(key, strip_line_ending(value), metadata);
+            }
+            true
+        } else {
+            false
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn parse_meta_value(&mut self, key: &str, value: &str, metadata: &mut CsvMetadata) {
+        match key.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "delimiter" => {
+                if let Some(delimiter) = delimter_from_value(value) {
+                    metadata.delimiter = delimiter as u32;
+                }
+            }
+            "tags" => metadata.tags = value.trim().to_owned(),
+            "columns" => {
+                if let Ok(columns) = self.parse_columns(value, metadata) {
+                    metadata.columns = columns;
+                }
+            }
+            "deck" => {
+                if let Ok(Some(did)) = self.deck_id_for_string(value) {
+                    metadata.deck_id = did.0;
+                }
+            }
+            "notetype" => {
+                if let Ok(Some(nt)) = self.notetype_for_string(value) {
+                    metadata.notetype_id = nt.id.0;
+                }
+            }
+            "html" => metadata.html = value.to_lowercase().parse::<bool>().ok(),
+
+            _ => (),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn parse_columns(&mut self, line: &str, metadata: &mut CsvMetadata) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
+        let delimiter = if metadata.delimiter != 0 {
+            metadata.delimiter as u8
+        } else {
+            delimiter_from_line(line)
+        };
+        map_single_record(line, delimiter, |record| {
+            record
+                .iter()
+                .enumerate()
+                .map(|(idx, s)| self.column_label(idx, s))
+                .collect()
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn column_label(&self, idx: usize, column: &str) -> String {
+        match column.trim() {
+            "" => self.tr.importing_column(idx + 1).to_string(),
+            "tags" => self.tr.editing_tags().to_string(),
+            s => s.to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn set_columns(metadata: &mut CsvMetadata, line: &str, tr: &I18n) -> Result<()> {
+    if metadata.columns.is_empty() {
+        let columns = map_single_record(line, metadata.delimiter as u8, |r| r.len())?;
+        metadata.columns = (0..columns)
+            .map(|i| tr.importing_column(i + 1).to_string())
+            .collect();
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn set_delimiter(delimiter: Option<u8>, metadata: &mut CsvMetadata, line: &str) {
+    if let Some(delim) = delimiter {
+        metadata.delimiter = delim as u32;
+    } else if metadata.delimiter == 0 {
+        // XXX: should '#delimiter:[NUL]' be supported?
+        metadata.delimiter = delimiter_from_line(line) as u32;
+    }
+}
+
+fn delimter_from_value(value: &str) -> Option<u8> {
+    // FIXME: bytes like '\n', '#' and '"' will likely cause issues
+    Some(if value.as_bytes().len() == 1 {
+        value.as_bytes()[0]
+    } else {
+        match value.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "tab" | "\\t" => b'\t',
+            "semicolon" => b';',
+            "comma" => b',',
+            "space" => b' ',
+            _ => return None,
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+fn delimiter_from_line(line: &str) -> u8 {
+    // TODO: use smarter heuristic
+    for byte in [b'\t', b';', b','] {
+        if line.contains(byte as char) {
+            return byte;
+        }
+    }
+    b' '
+}
+
+fn map_single_record<T>(
+    line: &str,
+    delimiter: u8,
+    op: impl FnOnce(&csv::StringRecord) -> T,
+) -> Result<T> {
+    csv::ReaderBuilder::new()
+        .delimiter(delimiter)
+        .from_reader(line.as_bytes())
+        .headers()
+        .map_err(|_| AnkiError::ImportError(ImportError::Corrupt))
+        .map(op)
+}
+
+fn strip_line_ending(line: &str) -> &str {
+    line.strip_suffix("\r\n")
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| line.strip_suffix('\n').unwrap_or(line))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::collection::open_test_collection;
+
+    macro_rules! metadata {
+        ($col:expr,$csv:expr) => {
+            metadata!($col, $csv, None)
+        };
+        ($col:expr,$csv:expr, $delim:expr) => {
+            $col.get_reader_metadata(BufReader::new($csv.as_bytes()), $delim)
+                .unwrap()
+        };
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_deck_by_name_or_id() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:Default\n").deck_id, 1);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#deck:1\n").deck_id, 1);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_notetype_by_name_or_id() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        let basic_id = col.get_notetype_by_name("Basic").unwrap().unwrap().id.0;
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#notetype:Basic\n").notetype_id, basic_id);
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, &format!("#notetype:{basic_id}\n")).notetype_id,
+            basic_id
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_valid_delimiters() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter: \n").delimiter, ' ' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:space\n").delimiter, ' ' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:\t\n").delimiter, '\t' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:Tab\n").delimiter, '\t' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:;\n").delimiter, ';' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter:SEMICOLON\n").delimiter,
+            ';' as u32
+        );
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:,\n").delimiter, ',' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:comma\n").delimiter, ',' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:|\n").delimiter, '|' as u32);
+        // fallback
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:foo\n").delimiter, ' ' as u32);
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#delimiter:♥\n").delimiter, ' ' as u32);
+        // pick up from first line
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "foo\tbar\n").delimiter, '\t' as u32);
+        // override with provided
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter: \nfoo\tbar\n", Some(b'|')).delimiter,
+            '|' as u32
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_valid_html_toggle() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#html:true\n").html, Some(true));
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#html:FALSE\n").html, Some(false));
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#html:maybe\n").html, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_old_and_new_style_tags() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        assert_eq!(&metadata!(col, "tags:foo bar\n").tags, "foo bar");
+        assert_eq!(&metadata!(col, "#tags:foo bar\n").tags, "foo bar");
+        // only in head
+        assert_eq!(&metadata!(col, "#\n#tags:foo bar\n").tags, "foo bar");
+        assert_eq!(&metadata!(col, "\n#tags:foo bar\n").tags, "");
+        // only on very first line
+        assert_eq!(&metadata!(col, "#\ntags:foo bar\n").tags, "");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn should_detect_column_number_and_names() {
+        let mut col = open_test_collection();
+        // detect from line
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "foo;bar\n").columns,
+            ["Column 1", "Column 2"]
+        );
+        // detect encoded
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter:,\nfoo;bar\n").columns,
+            ["Column 1"]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter:|\nfoo|bar\n").columns,
+            ["Column 1", "Column 2"]
+        );
+        // override
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter:;\nfoo;bar\n", Some(b'|')).columns,
+            ["Column 1"]
+        );
+
+        // custom names
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#columns:one,two\n").columns, ["one", "two"]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#delimiter:|\n#columns:one|two\n").columns,
+            ["one", "two"]
+        );
+        // fill in missing
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata!(col, "#columns:one, ,two,\n").columns,
+            ["one", "Column 2", "two", "Column 4"]
+        );
+        // fill in special names
+        assert_eq!(metadata!(col, "#columns:tags\n").columns, ["Tags"]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/mod.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3a6fb0dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/csv/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+mod import;
+mod metadata;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub enum Column {
+    Field(usize),
+    Ignore,
+    Tags,
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs b/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
index 65558451b..c517b2c8c 100644
--- a/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/import_export/text/import.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
         let mut notetypes = HashMap::new();
         notetypes.insert(
             String::new(),
-            col.get_notetype_for_string(&data.default_notetype)?,
+            col.notetype_for_string(&data.default_notetype)?,
         );
         let mut deck_ids = HashMap::new();
         deck_ids.insert(String::new(), col.deck_id_for_string(&data.default_deck)?);
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
         Ok(if let Some(nt) = self.notetypes.get(&note.notetype) {
             nt.clone()
         } else {
-            let nt = self.col.get_notetype_for_string(&note.notetype)?;
+            let nt = self.col.notetype_for_string(&note.notetype)?;
             self.notetypes.insert(note.notetype.clone(), nt.clone());
             nt
         })
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ impl<'a> Context<'a> {
 }
 
 impl Collection {
-    fn deck_id_for_string(&mut self, deck: &str) -> Result<Option<DeckId>> {
+    pub(super) fn deck_id_for_string(&mut self, deck: &str) -> Result<Option<DeckId>> {
         if let Ok(did) = deck.parse::<DeckId>() {
             if self.get_deck(did)?.is_some() {
                 return Ok(Some(did));
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl Collection {
         self.get_deck_id(deck)
     }
 
-    fn get_notetype_for_string(&mut self, notetype: &str) -> Result<Option<Arc<Notetype>>> {
+    pub(super) fn notetype_for_string(&mut self, notetype: &str) -> Result<Option<Arc<Notetype>>> {
         if let Some(nt) = self.get_notetype_for_id_string(notetype)? {
             Ok(Some(nt))
         } else {