Skip to main content
Owners and admins only.

​
Before you import

Your file must be a CSV. Most spreadsheet apps can save or export one.
  • Up to 5,000 rows, and no larger than 2 MB. Split a bigger list into several files.
  • The first row holds the column headings.
  • Each row needs a phone number or an email address.
  • Numbers starting 07 are read as UK mobiles. Other numbers need their country code.
Importing a contact does not mean they have agreed to hear from you on WhatsApp. Only message people who have asked to hear from you. Importing never opts anyone in to marketing.

​
Import a CSV

1

Choose your file

Go to Contacts, choose Import, and choose your CSV file.
2

Match the columns

Companion reads your headings and guesses which column is which. Check each one and change any that are wrong. Choose Not in this file for anything you do not have.
3

Name the list

Under Name this list, give the import a name, such as “Spring fair guests”. You can then send a broadcast to just these people, or undo the import.
4

Decide what happens to people you already have

Leave Update existing contacts off to leave them as they are. Turn it on to fill in their blank names, emails and notes, and add tags. Nothing you typed is ever overwritten.
5

Check the rows

Choose Check rows. The preview shows what will happen to every row before anything is saved.Choose Back to change the matching.
6

Import

Choose Import contacts. A summary tells you how many were imported and updated.
An opt-out column in your file is always honoured, for people you already have as well as new ones.

​
Imports are named lists

Each import is kept as a list. Everyone on the file belongs to it, including people who were already contacts.
  • To see the people on a list, go to Contacts, choose Imports, then View beside the list.
  • To send to a list, choose it as the audience of a broadcast. See Audiences.

​
Undo an import

1

Open your imports

Go to Contacts and choose Imports.
2

Undo it

Choose Undo beside the import, then Undo this import.
The contacts the import added are removed, and the list stops being an audience. Some people are kept:
  • anyone who was already a contact before the import. They are only taken off the list
  • anyone who has since messaged you
  • anyone who has also come in from another source, such as your shop or a later import
  • anyone who has opted out, so the opt-out is not lost
Details the import filled in on existing contacts stay.

​
Export your contacts

Go to Contacts and choose Export. A CSV of every contact downloads. The file has one row for each contact: phone number and any other numbers, name, email, notes, tags, where they came from, when and how they opted out of marketing, how many conversations they have, and when they were added. To export conversations, messages and other data, see Your data.