By Alpit Patel and the aibrevo team · October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
How Do You Export Data from Close CRM?
Quick answer
In Close, go to the Leads page, open the three-dot menu, choose Export, then pick Leads, Contacts or Opportunities, a format (CSV or JSON) and common or all fields. Close emails a download link that expires after 7 days. Only JSON exports all activities such as emails, calls, SMS and notes.
Key takeaways
- Exports start on the Leads page: three-dot menu, Export, then choose type, format and fields. Contacts are exported from the Leads page, not the Contacts page (Close help center, checked Oct 22, 2026).
- CSV is the common format but leaves out activity data. JSON is the only format that exports all activities: emails, calls, SMS, notes and custom activities.
- The emailed download link expires automatically after 7 days, and larger exports can take longer to generate.
- You cannot export from a Smart View created on the Contacts tab. Only Leads Smart Views work.
- Smart Views, custom fields, phone numbers and templates are not in the default export. Close points to support tools that need an API key.
To export data from Close, open the Leads page, click the three-dot menu, choose Export, and pick Leads, Contacts or Opportunities, a format and the fields. Close emails a download link that expires after 7 days. Use JSON if you need emails, calls, SMS and notes, because CSV leaves activities out. This page comes from Close’s help center and developer docs, checked on October 22, 2026.
How do you export leads, contacts and opportunities from Close?
The steps in Close’s exporting data article:
- On the Leads page, open the … menu and choose Export.
- Pick a type: Leads, Contacts or Opportunities.
- Pick a format: CSV or JSON.
- Pick common fields or all fields.
- Export everything, or narrow the results with a search query first.
Close sends the download link by email. For contacts, remember the export lives on the Leads page: set Type to Contacts there.
CSV or JSON: which Close export format should you use?
CSV for tidy lists, JSON for anything with history. The article’s own descriptions:
| Format | Best for | Includes activities? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSV | Spreadsheets and imports into another CRM | No | Opens in Excel or Google Sheets. Most common format |
| JSON | Large exports, full backups, migrations | Yes: Emails, Calls, SMS, Notes, Custom Activities | Less compact. Shows hierarchical and relational data |
Source: Close help center, “Exporting data”, checked Oct 22, 2026.
The field sets differ too. Common fields include ID, lead name, status label, primary contact details, URLs and all custom fields. All fields adds address information, activity dates, primary opportunity data and Smart Fields, which are calculated fields such as the number of emails on a lead.
What are the Close export limits and rules?
Seven days for the link, and a few restrictions on where you can start.
Source: Close help center, “Exporting data”, checked Oct 22, 2026.
- You cannot export from a Smart View created on the Contacts tab. Only Leads Smart Views work.
- The article states no row limits or file size limits, and no plan requirements.
- Larger exports can take longer to generate the link.
- Certain fields are visible only to organization admins in the Event Log API.
What does the default Close export leave out?
Settings and configuration. The article lists Smart Views, custom fields, phone numbers, templates and similar data as outside the default export, and points to support tools:
| You want | Use | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Views | Export Smart Views tool | Close API key (Settings, Developer, API Keys) |
| Notes | Export Notes tool | Close API key |
| Phone numbers | Export Phone Numbers tool | Close API key |
| Call and SMS cost report | Export Call and SMS Usage tool | Close API key |
| All activities | JSON export | None beyond normal export access |
Source: Close help center, “Exporting data” and “Variable Usage Costs”, checked Oct 22, 2026.
How do you export Close data with the API?
Create an export and poll it. Close’s export API docs say exports run asynchronously: you create an export, then send GET requests for its status until status is done and a download_url is available. The page we read states no limits for exports, and it did not list the export types and formats, so check the full API reference before you build on it.
Why is my Close export wrong or incomplete?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No notes, calls or emails in the file | CSV was chosen | Re-export as JSON |
| Contacts export is not offered where you looked | Contacts export is on the Leads page, not the Contacts page | Start from Leads, set Type to Contacts |
| Export refuses to start from a saved view | The Smart View was created on the Contacts tab | Use a Leads Smart View, or search on the Leads page |
| Download link no longer works | Link expires after 7 days | Run the export again and download promptly |
| Smart Views, templates or phone numbers are missing | Outside the default export | Use the support tools with an API key |
| Opportunities export option missing on the list view | The Filter and Export route works on the legacy List view only | Export Opportunities from the Leads page |
| Export takes a long time | Larger exports take longer to generate the link | Wait, or export in smaller filtered batches |
Source: Close help center, “Exporting data”, checked Oct 22, 2026.
What should you do with the file before a move?
Check the record count against the live account, spot-check a few full records, and keep the JSON as your archive even if you import the CSV. Then clean duplicates and blanks with our data cleaning guide, and compare against how other platforms export in our eight-CRM export guide. The CRM migration guide covers the order to load companies, contacts and deals.
When to get help
Exporting is easy. Mapping Close’s lead and contact structure, activities and opportunities into another CRM is the hard part. aibrevo implements Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, monday.com, Airtable and GoHighLevel, and migrations from Close are quoted per project. Book a short call or send a message. See the Pipedrive service page and HubSpot service page for two common destinations.
Sources
- Close help center, Exporting data, checked Oct 22, 2026.
- Close developer docs, Exports, checked Oct 22, 2026.
- Close help center, Variable Usage Costs, checked Oct 22, 2026.
- Not stated and left out: row or file size limits, plan requirements, and the full list of API export types.