How do I import contacts into Freshsales?

Open Import Contacts in the Contacts module, choose CSV/XLSX and click Next. Choose contacts only or contacts with accounts, upload the file, map each column to a field, then choose the date format, import action, duplicate handling, default owner, tags, lifecycle stage and subscription status. Click Import Now.

What file types can Freshsales import?

CSV and XLSX only. Freshworks tells you to convert all files to .CSV or .XLSX before importing. The file must be 5 MB or fewer. The article does not state a row limit, so split large files by size and check Import History after each part.

What is the Freshsales import file size limit?

5 MB. Freshworks says to ensure your file size is 5 MB or fewer. The article states no maximum number of rows. If your export is bigger, split it into several files and import them one after another, keeping the same column headers and mapping.

What fields are required to import contacts into Freshsales?

Last name must be mapped. Freshworks says the last name must be mapped for the import to be complete. If you import accounts with contacts, the mandatory account fields must be mapped too. Rows with empty mandatory fields fail, so fill them or remove those rows.

How does Freshsales handle duplicate contacts on import?

Choose Skip duplicate Contacts to skip matches. Freshsales matches on Freshworks CRM ID, email, phone number or work number, and text and number fields can also be used. Email matches only the primary email, and phone numbers must match exactly. You get a summary email with a CSV of skipped records.

What date format does Freshsales import use?

You choose one of three: DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY/MM/DD. Pick the one that matches your file in the final import step. A mismatch between the format you choose and the one in your file is a likely cause of field type errors.

Can I import accounts and deals into Freshsales as well?

Yes. Freshworks lists contacts, accounts, deals, products, custom modules and sales goals as importable. To bring contacts and accounts together, choose Contacts along with Accounts and map both sets of fields. Contacts match existing accounts by account name.

Why did my Freshsales import fail or skip records?

Freshworks lists these causes: invalid email addresses, unmapped columns, field type mismatches, picklist values that do not match the field's choices, empty mandatory fields and records mapped to a deactivated user. Open Import History, click Download to get the error log and fix those rows.

Can I undo a Freshsales import?

The import article we read describes no undo option. Import History shows created, updated, skipped and errored records, so you can review the result. Test with a small file first, and keep an export of the account before a large import.

How do I assign an owner when importing into Freshsales?

Put the user's sign-in email address in the Owner column, not their name. You can also pick a default owner in the final step. Records mapped to a deactivated user fail, so check that every owner in the file is an active user.

By Alpit Patel and the aibrevo team · October 22, 2026 · 5 min read

How Do You Import Contacts into Freshsales?

Quick answer

In Freshsales, go to the Contacts module, click Import Contacts, choose CSV or XLSX, upload a file of 5 MB or less, map the columns (Last name is required), set the date format and duplicate handling, and click Import Now. Check Import History for skipped and errored records.

Updated October 22, 2026 · Reviewed by Alpit Patel, Founder and CEO

Key takeaways

The path is the Contacts module, Import Contacts, then CSV or XLSX. Files must be 5 MB or fewer, and the article states no row limit (Freshworks help center, checked Oct 22, 2026).
Last name must be mapped or the import is not complete. Rows with empty mandatory fields fail.
Duplicates can be skipped by matching Freshworks CRM ID, email, phone number or work number. Email matches only the primary email, and phone numbers must match exactly.
Import History shows created, updated, skipped and errored records, and you can download an error log. The article describes no undo.
Admins can cap daily record creation and updates during import for contacts, accounts and deals under Roles and Permissions.

To import contacts into Freshsales, open Import Contacts in the Contacts module, choose CSV/XLSX, upload a file of 5 MB or less, map the columns, set the date format and duplicate handling, and click Import Now. Last name must be mapped. Everything below comes from Freshworks’ import article, checked on October 22, 2026.

How do you import contacts into Freshsales step by step?

Nine steps, in this order:

Go to Import Contacts in the Contacts module.
Select CSV/XLSX and click Next.
Choose Contacts only, or Contacts along with Accounts. If you import accounts, map both contact and account fields.
Click Next.
Upload the file.
Map the columns to fields. Review flagged unmapped mandatory fields and make sure each field type fits its column values.
Click Next.
Choose the date format, the import action (create, update or both), duplicate handling, default owner, tags, lifecycle stage and subscription status.
Click Import Now.

Small files import almost instantly. Large files open an import progress screen.

How do you prepare the file?

Create custom fields first so there is something to map to. Multi-select values go in one cell separated by semicolons. For LinkedIn, enter only the profile name (for example john-doe), not the full URL. For owners, use the user’s sign-in email address, not the name. Convert any other format to CSV or XLSX before you start.

What are the Freshsales import limits?

The file must be 5 MB or fewer, and Freshworks states no row limit.

Item	Value
File types	CSV, XLSX
Maximum file size	5 MB
Row limit	Not stated in the article
Required field	Last name (and mandatory account fields when importing accounts)
Date formats	DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY, YYYY/MM/DD
Importable records	Contacts, accounts, deals, products, custom modules, sales goals
Admin cap	Daily record creation and updates during import, for contacts, accounts and deals (not custom modules)

Source: Freshworks help center, “How to import records (contacts, accounts, deals) from a CSV/XLSX file”, checked Oct 22, 2026.

The admin cap sits under Admin Settings, Teams and Territories, Roles, then Permissions and Actions. Our CRM import limits comparison shows how 5 MB compares with other platforms, and the import file checker scans a CSV for structural problems before you upload it.

How does Freshsales handle duplicates on import?

Select Skip duplicate Contacts and Freshsales skips records that match an existing one.

Match on	Behavior
Freshworks CRM ID	Supported identifier
Email	Matches only the primary email
Phone number	Must match exactly. 9003241245 and +1-9003241245 are not duplicates
Work number	Supported identifier
Text and number fields	Can also be used as the matching field

If no unique fields are mapped, Freshsales prompts you to choose one. You receive a summary email with a CSV of the skipped records. Contacts are matched to existing accounts by account name, and when you use Overwrite, an account already linked to a contact is not replaced. The new account is added alongside it. Normalize phone formats before you import, using the cleanup steps in our data cleaning guide.

Source: Freshworks help center import article, checked Oct 22, 2026.

Why did my Freshsales import fail?

Match the symptom to the documented causes:

Symptom	Documented cause	Fix
Import will not complete	Last name not mapped	Map a column to Last name
Rows fail	Empty mandatory fields	Fill them or remove the rows
Rows fail	Invalid email addresses	Correct the addresses in the file
Fields left blank	Unmapped columns	Map them, or create a custom field first
Rows rejected	Field type does not match the column values	Match the field type to the data, for example text in a number field
Picklist values rejected	Values do not match the field’s choices	Add the choices to the field, or edit the file
Rows rejected	Record mapped to a deactivated user	Use an active user’s email in the Owner column
Date values wrong or rejected	Date format chosen differs from the file	Pick the matching format in step 8

Source: Freshworks help center import article, checked Oct 22, 2026. The date row is our inference from the three formats the article offers, not a documented error.

To review results, open Import History, which shows created, updated, skipped and errored records. Click Download to get the error log. The article does not describe an undo.

How do you import contacts with their accounts?

Choose Contacts along with Accounts in step 3, then map both contact and account fields. Freshsales matches each contact to an existing account by account name. If a contact has several account field values, the article says Freshsales updates the contact with the latest value. If you are migrating from another CRM, our CRM migration guide covers the order to load companies, contacts and deals, and the Pipedrive equivalent is in how to import contacts into Pipedrive.

Can you use an import to update existing contacts in bulk?

Yes, and Freshworks suggests it. Its bulk actions article for contacts points to importing contacts as an alternative for bulk updates. The import step lets you choose to create, update or both, and the duplicate settings above decide which existing record gets matched.

When to get help

A single clean CSV is a ten-minute job. Get help when you are loading deals, accounts, products and custom modules together, when duplicates are likely, or when the file comes from several systems. aibrevo implements Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, monday.com, Airtable and GoHighLevel, and Freshsales work is quoted per project. Book a short call or send a message, and see the Pipedrive service page if that is your destination instead.

Sources

Freshworks help center, How to import records (contacts, accounts, deals) from a CSV/XLSX file, checked Oct 22, 2026.
Freshworks help center, What are the bulk actions for contacts?, checked Oct 22, 2026.
Not stated and left out: a row limit, which plans include import, and any undo option.

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