# Import contacts from a CSV file

To import contacts, save them as a CSV file, then open **Contacts** and click **Import**. Browse to the file and continue. Match each XgenPlus field to a column in your file, choose a group for contacts without one and a rule for duplicates, then click **Finish**. Only CSV files can be imported.

## How to import contacts from a CSV file

1. Export your contacts from Outlook, Gmail or a spreadsheet as a CSV file.
2. Open **Contacts** and click **Import**.
3. Browse to the CSV file and go to the next step.
4. Match each XgenPlus field to a column in your file, and choose a default group and a duplicate rule.
5. Click **Finish**, then correct any invalid rows that are shown.

## When to use it

> acme.in moves from Outlook. Each employee exports their contacts to CSV and imports them into XgenPlus, choosing **Skip the Contact** so entries they already added are not touched.

## Options

| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Field matching | Matches your file's columns to name, email, company, phone, address, birth date, comments and group. |
| Group for contacts with no group | Where contacts go if your file has no group column. |
| **Replace the Contact with New One** | Overwrites an existing contact with the same email. |
| **Skip the Contact** | Keeps the existing contact and ignores the row. |
| **Use Existing Contact Information** | Keeps the existing contact and adds it to the new group. |

## Good to know

- After the import you see how many contacts were imported and how many were invalid. You can fix invalid rows on the spot and save them again.
- Addresses that belong to a mailing list are not imported.
- There is a size limit on the file you upload.

## Common questions

**Can I import a vCard file?**

Not from the import screen, which takes CSV only. You can add a single vCard you receive as a mail attachment.

**What happens with very large files?**

Large imports run in the background. You get a mail with a detailed status report when they finish.


Source: https://docs.xgenplus.com/contacts/import-contacts/