diff --git a/docs/operators/file_input.md b/docs/operators/file_input.md
index 6062d620..4a9eff27 100644
--- a/docs/operators/file_input.md
+++ b/docs/operators/file_input.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ The `file_input` operator reads logs from files. It will place the lines read in
 | `poll_interval`        | 200ms            | The duration between filesystem polls                                                                              |
 | `multiline`            |                  | A `multiline` configuration block. See below for details                                                           |
 | `write_to`             | `$body`          | The body [field](/docs/types/field.md) written to when creating a new log entry                                  |
-| `encoding`             | `nop`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
+| `encoding`             | `utf-8`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
 | `include_file_name`    | `true`           | Whether to add the file name as the attribute `file_name`                                                              |
 | `include_file_path`    | `false`          | Whether to add the file path as the label `file_path`                                                              |
 | `start_at`             | `end`            | At startup, where to start reading logs from the file. Options are `beginning` or `end`                            |
diff --git a/docs/operators/tcp_input.md b/docs/operators/tcp_input.md
index cde6cc43..05d1d36d 100644
--- a/docs/operators/tcp_input.md
+++ b/docs/operators/tcp_input.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ The `tcp_input` operator listens for logs on one or more TCP connections. The op
 | `resource`        | {}               | A map of `key: value` pairs to add to the entry's resource                                                         |
 | `add_attributes`  | false            | Adds `net.*` attributes according to [semantic convention][https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/specification/trace/semantic_conventions/span-general.md#general-network-connection-attributes] |
 | `multiline`       |                  | A `multiline` configuration block. See below for details                                                           |
-| `encoding`        | `nop`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
+| `encoding`        | `utf-8`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
 
 #### TLS Configuration
 
diff --git a/docs/operators/udp_input.md b/docs/operators/udp_input.md
index 4674beb0..5fc8a5ce 100644
--- a/docs/operators/udp_input.md
+++ b/docs/operators/udp_input.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ The `udp_input` operator listens for logs from UDP packets.
 | `resource`        | {}               | A map of `key: value` pairs to add to the entry's resource                                                         |
 | `add_attributes`  | false            | Adds `net.*` attributes according to [semantic convention][https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/specification/trace/semantic_conventions/span-general.md#general-network-connection-attributes] |
 | `multiline`       |                  | A `multiline` configuration block. See below for details                                                           |
-| `encoding`        | `nop`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
+| `encoding`        | `utf-8`            | The encoding of the file being read. See the list of supported encodings below for available options               |
 
 #### `multiline` configuration
 
diff --git a/operator/helper/encoding.go b/operator/helper/encoding.go
index 875921ff..5c116b89 100644
--- a/operator/helper/encoding.go
+++ b/operator/helper/encoding.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 // NewBasicConfig creates a new Encoding config
 func NewEncodingConfig() EncodingConfig {
 	return EncodingConfig{
-		Encoding: "nop",
+		Encoding: "utf-8",
 	}
 }
 
@@ -76,11 +76,12 @@ func (e *Encoding) Decode(msgBuf []byte) (string, error) {
 var encodingOverrides = map[string]encoding.Encoding{
 	"utf-16":   unicode.UTF16(unicode.LittleEndian, unicode.IgnoreBOM),
 	"utf16":    unicode.UTF16(unicode.LittleEndian, unicode.IgnoreBOM),
+	"utf-8":    unicode.UTF8,
 	"utf8":     unicode.UTF8,
 	"ascii":    unicode.UTF8,
 	"us-ascii": unicode.UTF8,
 	"nop":      encoding.Nop,
-	"":         encoding.Nop,
+	"":         unicode.UTF8,
 }
 
 func lookupEncoding(enc string) (encoding.Encoding, error) {