How to Add Contacts to Gmail Using a CSV File

You can add email contacts in bulk to your Google account by importing them from a .CSV file (comma-separated value). Contact CSV files can be made from scratch or exported from your email client of choice. You can use a blank Gmail CSV file as a template to see the acceptable fields, then add your own contacts. Once complete, sign into your Google Contacts and import the CSV file. Don’t forget to double check your imported contacts for accuracy.

CSV Format for Google Contacts

In Google Contacts, click “Export” on the top of the menu.
Select the contacts you’d like to include.
Select “Google CSV” and then click “Export.”
Import the file in Excel or Google Sheets.
Reverse these steps to import contacts from Excel or Google into Google Contacts.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Creating a CSV File Template

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1
Export a CSV file from Gmail. This can provide a template for which fields Gmail will accept for CSV importing.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you are having problems exporting without any contacts, try manually adding a single contact to create an export file.
- If you are importing a CSV from another email service, you can skip to the import method.
- If you want to create CSV file from scratch, a full list of the field headers can be found here.
2
Open the CSV file with a spreadsheet or text program. The first line of the CSV will display the different categories for data entry (e.g. First Name, Last Name, email, etc.). Spreadsheets will separate these categories into different cells, while text editors will list these values on the first line separated by commas.
- Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets will work for working with a spreadsheet, Notepad or TextEdit will work for working with a plaintext file.^{[2]XResearch source}
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3
Add your contacts to the CSV. Enter information to the related cell or list values in order. If no value is needed for a certain area, the cell can be left blank, or in the case of a text file, filled with a “,”.
- For example, a First Name, Last Name, Telephone, Email on a text file could be “John,,,[email protected]”.
- Make sure to not to remove any fields or to include a comma in place of a blank field in the case of a text file. Gmail will scan for all fields, so missing fields will cause problems with the import.
Changes to the CSV file must be saved before they can be imported into your Gmail account.^{[3]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Importing a CSV With a Web Browser

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Navigate to Google Contacts in your web browser.
Enter your username and password and click “Sign in”. You will be redirected to your Google Contacts page.
3
Click the “Import Contacts” button. This button is listed in the left panel and will open an import popup window.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you are using the new Contacts preview, this button will be labeled “Contacts”. The preview does not currently support importing contacts and you will be redirected to the old contacts interface and will need to redo this step.
^{[5]XResearch source}
Browse for the file you exported or created and click “Open”. The file will be added to the import popup window.
6
Click “Import”. After a few moments the import will complete and your contacts will appear listed on your Contacts page.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If you find that your contacts did not import correctly (i.e. information imported into the wrong field), you may have removed a field or missed a comma on your CSV file. If you imported many contacts, it may be easier correct the CSV file, delete all imported contacts, and re-import, rather than editing each contact one by one.

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Can I import a CVS file from AOL mail?
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Yes, follow these steps: (1) Once logged into AOL Mail, click on "Contacts" on the left. (2) Click on the Tools menu and choose "Import." (3) Pick a CSV file on your computer. (4) Select an import format (CSV, TXT, or LDIF). (5) Click on the "Import" button.
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How do I import my contacts to a specific group?
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Each imported contact features a flag (group) that you can select and rename as desired.
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How can I see the contacts that are imported to a Gmail account?
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A list of your contacts can be viewed at contacts.google.com or in the Contacts app of your mobile device (if it has been linked to your Gmail account).
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CSV files currently cannot be imported using mobile devices.
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CSV is likely to be one of the options when exporting your contacts from another email service. These files will be preformatted with your contacts’ information and ready to import into your Google account.
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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of How.com.vn readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on How.com.vn, please submit it in the field below.

I found an odd solution to a bug. Google seems to want a specific format that I couldn't figure out, but this worked. Go to Google, select Contacts, and pick one contact to export. Copy and paste that format into the new file before you transfer multiple contacts and it should resolve any formatting issues.
To keep the "phone" field from showing up under the notes, try renaming the field to "mobile" in the CSV before you import it.

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Warnings

If you created your own CSV file, it is a good idea to double check that the information imported to the correct fields. For example, make sure names and emails appear in the correct space and are associated with the correct contacts.
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