# Import contacts from a file

**Category:** [Contacts](https://help.totalctrl.app/hc/totalctrl/totalctrl-help-center/en-US/categories/contacts-1)
**Updated:** 2026-08-19

## Bulk-loading people

The import wizard lets you add or update many contacts at once from a spreadsheet. Importing requires **administrator** access. Imported people are created as **CRM contacts** and then flow into the unified directory like any other source.
## Supported files

Upload a `.csv`, `.xls`, or `.xlsx` file. The first row must contain column headers.
## How it works

- Open **Import** from the Contacts app and upload your file.
- The wizard reads your headers and shows a **preview** of the first few rows along with the total row count.
- Columns are **auto-mapped** where the header is recognizable — for example `Email`, `E-mail`, and `Email Address` all map to email; `Full Name` maps to name; `Mobile` or `Tel` map to phone.
- Adjust the mapping for any unmatched columns, then run the import.

## Mappable fields

- **name** — split into first and last name on import
- **email** — used to match existing contacts
- **phone**
- **source_app**

## Add vs. update

Rows are matched to existing CRM contacts by email (case-insensitive). A match **updates** the existing person; otherwise a new contact is **created**. Rows with neither a name nor an email are **skipped**. When the import finishes you get a summary of how many records were created, updated, and skipped, plus any row-level errors.

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## Related Articles

- [Contacts overview](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/contacts-overview-1)
- [Search and filter your contacts](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/search-and-filter-contacts)
- [Create custom fields for contacts](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/create-custom-fields)
- [Contacts Overview](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/contacts-overview)
- [View a unified contact profile](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/view-a-unified-contact-profile)

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