Messages by wizard step. Steps: How to import contacts from a CSV file.
Choose a file #
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Upload a CSV file (.csv, .tsv or .txt)." / "This does not look like a CSV text file." | Save the sheet as CSV (not .xlsx) and try again |
| "The file is empty or could not be read." / "The file has no contacts in it." | Check the file has rows below the header |
| "The file is too large (the limit is …)." | Split it, or ask your host to raise upload_max_filesize (limit: the smaller of 100 MB and the server limit) |
| "The file has too many columns." | Over 200 columns: delete the ones you do not need |
| "The file could not be saved." | Ask your host to make wp-content/uploads writable |
Accented letters look wrong? Save the file as UTF-8.
Match columns #
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Choose which column holds the email address." | Set one column to Email address in Import it as |
| "Each field can be used for only one column." | Set the duplicate to Don't import this column |
| "Map either a full name or first and last name columns, not both." | Use Full name or First name and Last name |
| "A column is mapped to something that does not exist…" | A custom field was deleted: change that column |
If the first row is data, untick The first row holds column names.
Preview #
The Preview card appears by itself (Refresh preview runs it again). Its boxes are New contacts, Updated, Skipped and Rejected.
| Note | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Missing email address." / "Enter a valid email address." | Fix the cell (typo, space, missing @) |
| "This address is on the suppression list." | It cannot be imported. See Bounces, complaints and the suppression list |
| "Use a two-letter country code, for example US." | Use the code, not the name |
| "Enter a number." / "Enter a date as YYYY-MM-DD." | The value does not fit the custom field type. See Custom fields |
| Skipped: "This person asked not to be emailed…" | They unsubscribed earlier; only they can rejoin |
| Skipped: "The contact is in the trash. Restore it to update it." | Restore the contact first |
Import #
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| "The uploaded file is no longer available. Upload it again." | Unstarted uploads are removed after a day |
| "This import has already been started." | Open History |
| "One of the selected lists/tags no longer exists." | Choose again |
| "Import failed" | Read the red message in History |
| Amber "… keeps running in the background." | Click Resume |
When it finishes, click Download the rows that were not imported (columns row, error and your own), fix them and import that file.
Pending people and stuck imports #
- Without These people have given me permission to email them, new contacts are Pending and get no campaigns until they confirm. Use Settings > Compliance > Send confirmation to pending contacts (Double opt-in).
- An import never changes the status of an existing contact, and never resubscribes unsubscribed, bounced or complained people.
- A closed tab finishes only when the scheduler runs. Click Run the scheduler now in Settings > Scheduler, then check Audience > Import / Export > History (Waiting, Running, Finished, Failed, Cancelled). For a very large file, split it.
Next: Contact statuses.
