Importing Into Zoho CRM

Importing Into Zoho CRM

Do you have a list in Excel that you would like to import into Zoho CRM? If your administrator has not restricted your ability to import, the process is fairly easy to accomplish, but understanding the options can make everything go smoother.

First you may need to prepare the spreadsheet
  1. Remove any extra rows from the top of the spreadsheet, like titles or blank lines. Row 1 should be the column headers. Row 2 should be where the data starts.
  2. Make sure that there is a column for any required fields and that it is populated. For example, if you are importing into Leads or Contacts, the “Last Name” field is required. Depending on how you set up your Zoho, “Account Name” may also be a required field. You can tell which fields are required by looking at any record in edit mode. Fields with a red underscore on labels are required. Any records in your spreadsheet that are missing a required field value will be skipped on import.
  3. If there are any date fields in your spreadsheet, make sure that you  format all date fields with a 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm). Dates not formatted in this manner will not be imported. 
  4. If you want to assign to a user other than yourself, create a Record Owner column and enter the email address of the Zoho user to assign record ownership .

Now you are ready to import your data into Zoho CRM

  1. Click the module you wish to import into (e.g Leads or Contacts or Accounts. You cannot import into Activities, Quotes, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, or Invoices).
  2. Click the  Import button at the top right of the module List view.
  3. Select the first option to  Import [module name]
  4. Click the  From File option (NOT "From other CRM’s")
  5. Click the  Browse button (or use the Drag and drop option) to search for and select the file to import. Click the  Open button
  6. Click the  Next button when the file has been uploaded successfully.
  7. If you have created multiple layouts for this module, use the drop-down to  Select layout to import to use for the import.
  8. Identify how to import the records from the spreadsheet file:
    • Add as new [module name] – Zoho will import the list as new records. If a record already exists in Zoho, it will be skipped.
    • Update existing [module name] only – Zoho will import the list and only update existing records based on the ‘Skip…’ field option you select. When you select this option, you many need to break up your import into multiple files with 5,000 or less records each.
    • Both – Zoho will import the entire list. If a duplicate record is found it will update the current record in Zoho. If the record is not found, a new record will be added.
  9. Then identify the matching field ( Find/Skip existing [module name] based on) by selecting an   option from the drop-down.
    • The first option will always be the  [module name] Id This is the system-generated ID that Zoho has defined for the record. You cannot see the ID in any view. You can only see this ID when you export the records. So, if you export the records in some way or do a bckup, and then update the field values in the spreadsheet, you can re-import the updated values into Zoho, matching on the module ID field.
    • Any other fields identified as ‘unique fields’ will be displayed. For example, the  Email  field might be listed for Leads or Contacts. The  Deal Name or  Product Name or  Account Name  fields will be unique identifiers offered for record matching in those modules (though you may want to be careful if you haven’t been strict about unique naming). If you created an Accounting ID for the Account records, you could import revenue values based on that field.  Unique fields are defined in Setup by selecting the field and editing the property to “Do not allow duplicate values”.
    • If you select  Update or  Both , you will see the option for  “Don’t update empty values for existing records ”. You will want to leave this one checked. For example, leaving it checked means that if the record has a Mobile Number and the file that you are importing has a Mobile Number column, but you don’t have anything in it for selected records, it won’t copy the blank field onto the field that has data. Sometimes you may want to wipe out old values, but usually you will want to keep it checked.
  10. Click  Next.
    • Column labels in the file will display in the left column. The fields defined for the module will be displayed in the second column.
    • Start by clicking the  Apply Auto Mapping hyperlink at the bottom left of the screen. Zoho will do it’s best to match what it thinks are the correct fields.
    • Review each of the selections in the second column for reasonableness. Use the drop-down to change any field links.
    • Click the  Unmapped button at the top of the screen to see any remaining file values that should be mapped. Use the drop-down to select the matching field.Map each of the  Fields in file to the  Fields in Zoho CRM .
    • Any required fields in the database will need to be matched before proceeding.
  11. Notes:
    • Whichever field you selected in step 9 above, you will be required to map that field.
    • If there are matching fields in the file, but you don’t want to use them to update any records in the CRM, don’t map them and those fields will remain untouched in Zoho.
    • When mapping the Owner field, if you followed the instructions a few pages back for ‘Assigning Record ownership’ to update that field with the email of the User, then you should select Owner – Email as well for the mapping.
  12. Once you have completed all the field mapping, click  Next .
  13. Click  Yes, Continue to confirm that you know that some fields may be left unmapped.
  14. Final Options
    • Assign Lead Source: This is only available in the Leads module. It allows you to select an option from the Lead Source picklist. Alternately, you could have created a column in your spreadsheet for Lead Source and filled in the values for all records prior to selecting the file for import.
    • Assign Owner : Select  Users option to select the desired user from the drop-down list. Select  Assignment Rule if you have created one. Assignment rules are good for assigning records based on conditions (State or Zip address fields, product interest fields, etc.). Or select  Field Mapping if you created a column in the spreadsheet and assigned ownership with the user’s email login.
    • Assign Tasks: You can select a Workflow Task to be launched against each record if you like. You can read more about creating Workflows in the Automation chapter. In the example above, a Task is created for each record in 3 days to follow up.
    • Add Tags : Add tag to each of the imported records.
    • Enable Manual Lead Approval option is only available when importing into the Leads module. If you check this option, an admin will need to manually assign users to each of the imported records.
  15. Click  Finish .
** For more great tips on preparing your spreadsheets   and getting your data ready for an import into Zoho, you can download a copy (below) of my 12-page guide that will help you get your data in shape.

Happy importing.

Susan Clark, Zoho CRM Certified Consultant, Authorized Zoho ONE Partner
Cornerstone Solutions www.zcrmhelp.com
susan@zcrmhelp.com


  

    • Recent Topics

    • Introducing Enhanced Storage Management

      We’re excited to roll out two new enhancements in Zoho Recruit, Subscription Information and Storage Management — designed to give admins complete visibility into subscription details, feature limits, and storage consumption — all from one place inside

    • How to add Product Add-Ons, Mandatory Forms, and Auto-Save Address in Zoho Commerce

      Hi all, I need help setting up several behaviors in Zoho Commerce. I can’t find the correct configuration options, so I want to confirm whether these are supported or if there is a workaround. 1. Product-Specific Add-Ons (Example: GWB Subscription) When

    • how to download all my files

      We are in the middle of zoho docs to zoho workdrive migration. I can not access my zoho docs page. I get redirected immediately to a zoho workdrive page. I would like to download all my files so that I have a backup in case something goes wrong with the

    • Convert Zoho Books SalesOrder - Invoice

      Converting a Zoho Books Sales Order into an Invoice Using the SalesOrder Convert API Hello Zoho Developers, Today, we are sharing a simple and effective solution to convert a Zoho Books Sales Order into a Zoho Books Invoice using the SalesOrder Convert

    • Zoho Expense - Report Templates

      Hi Expense Team, I do a recurring trip once every week which has the same cost: Per diem Milage Toll Payment It would be great if there was a feature which allowed me to clone a previously submitted report or create a template reports. This would save

    • How to add tabular data when execute Add Record API

      Hi everyone! I was send api updateRecord follow by this request url : https://people.zoho.com/people/api/forms/json/<formLinkName>/updateRecord with parameters "inputData", "tabularData", "recordId". Ex picture below And response success: But. When I

    • Tip #51- Centralized Contact Management for Better Remote Support- 'Insider Insights'

      For our final topic of November, we’re diving into one of the most helpful features in Zoho Assist, the Contacts section on Zoho Assist;s dashboard. Whether you’re managing multiple clients, tracking past sessions, or simply looking to streamline your

    • Using gift vouchers

      We would like to be able to offer a limited number of gift vouchers, of varying values, to our customers, and are looking for the best way to do this. We have looked at Coupons and Gift Certificates, but neither seem to fit the bill perfectly. Coupons:

    • CRM Related list table in Zoho analytics

      In Zoho Analytics, where can I view the tables created from zoho crm related lists? For example, in my Zoho CRM setup, I have added the Product module as a related list in the Lead module, and also the Lead module as a related list in the Product module.

    • Option to Customize Career Site URL Without “/jobs/Careers”

      Dear Zoho Recruit Team, I hope you are doing well. We would like to request an enhancement to the Career Site URL structure in Zoho Recruit. In the old version of the career site, our URL was simply: 👉 https://jobs.domain.com However, after moving to

    • Zoho CRM for Everyone's NextGen UI Gets an Upgrade

      Hello Everyone We've made improvements to Zoho CRM for Everyone's Nextgen UI. These changes are the result of valuable feedback from you where we’ve focused on improving usability, providing wider screen space, and making navigation smoother so everything

    • Announcing Early Access to "Zoho CRM for Everyone" — A new and exciting update to Zoho CRM

      Update : Zoho CRM For Everyone's Nextgen Interface gets an upgrade! Hello everyone, We’ve updated the Zoho CRM for Everyone Nextgen interface based on your feedback. The UI is now simpler with a unified sidebar, a more visible global search and features

    • Say Hello to Telephony in Zoho FSM

      Zoho FSM now brings complete telephony support so your team can manage inbound and outbound calls without switching tabs. Faster responses, smarter routing, and total call visibility—all in one place. Choose the telephony setup that works for you Zoho’s

    • Zoho Sign - Zoho CRM extension upgrade

      Hi everyone, We've updated Zoho Sign extension for Zoho CRM with significant internal changes. Impact on existing Zoho Sign extension users Users using the extension without customization If you are using the integration without implementing Zoho Sign's

    • Is there a way to create a desktop shortcut for a website course portal?

      Hello everyone, I recently got a laptop and bought an online course from a website, Skillwint.com, which I visit regularly. I open that site many times a day and want to create a desktop shortcut so I can open it directly instead of searching in the browser

    • Managing functions

      Can someone let me know if there are any plans to improve the features for managing functions in CRM? I have lots of functions and finding them is hard. The search only works on the function name and the filter only works on function type. I have created

    • Sent mail sort by date disappeared

      Hello, We used to be able to sort the emails by date in the sent folder, but this feature has recently disappeared. Can we bring it back?

    • When will it be possible to edit Subform records via either views or tabular reports?

      Hey there, data maintenance often requires mass update of quite a lot of records. While this is a piece of cake via either List view or Zoho sheet view, the same cannot be carried out for subform records yet. When one of the two options will be made available?

    • E-Invoicing in Belgium with Zoho Books

      Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium is introducing mandatory electronic invoices (e-invoicing) for all B2B transactions between VAT-registered businesses. This means that invoices and credits notes must be exchanged in a prescribed digital format. How E-Invoicing

    • E-Invoicing in Belgium with Zoho Inventory

      Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium is introducing mandatory electronic invoices (e-invoicing) for all B2B transactions between VAT-registered businesses. Invoices and credits notes must be exchanged in a prescribed digital format. How E-Invoicing Works

    • Employee ID is not correct in get records api V2 for leave

      Hi Team, We are facing an issue when calling the Get Records API V2. The employee.id returned in the response is not the actual employee record ID in Zoho People. As a result, our integration is forced to make an additional Get Record API call for every

    • Formatting Mailing Labels

      I want to use the "Print Mailing Labels" function on the drop down list, but I am not seeing a way to change the formatting on the mailing labels. At the moment, the information that appears on the mailing labels ARE NOT mailing addresses, but random

    • Zoho People. Updating TabularData

      I am trying to update tabular data in the record. I always have the same response. I have checked many times. Section ID is correct. May be something wrong with request structure itself. Can someone help me. Body content type: form urlencoded query params

    • Canvas View - Print

      What is the best way to accomplish a print to PDF of the canvas view? Latest update (27th November 2025): We are excited to announce that the Canvas Print View is now available! We encourage you all to try it out and share your feedback with us. Learn

    • New to automation - please help

      Hi there! We are new to automations in Zoho. We built out one automation campaign and it seems to be firing off for some people but others not. Please advise what's the best practice or if anything we should tweak. Thank you so much!

    • E-Invoicing in Belgium with Zoho Billing

      Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium is introducing mandatory electronic invoices (e-invoicing) for all B2B transactions between VAT-registered businesses. Invoices and credits notes must be exchanged in a prescribed digital format. How E-Invoicing works

    • Zia Conversation Summary: Context at a glance for every customer interaction

      Hello everyone! Every customer conversation tells a story—but in CRM, that story is rarely in one place. A sales rep moving between multiple leads has to reopen long email threads, check call remarks, and revisit meeting notes just to remember what was

    • How to set a fixed width of column/cells

      Is there a way to set a 'fixed' width for cells in zoho sheet?   I know how to adjust the size of the colums.... but after I past a large block of text into a cell, it expands the cell size again. (yes, I have turned off word wrap)   How can I set a fixed width so the cells don't change size each time I add data to a cell?   Thanks.

    • Cliq iOS can't see shared screen

      Hello, I had this morning a video call with a colleague. She is using Cliq Desktop MacOS and wanted to share her screen with me. I'm on iPad. I noticed, while she shared her screen, I could only see her video, but not the shared screen... Does Cliq iOS is able to display shared screen, or is it somewhere else to be found ? Regards

    • Workdrive Oauth2 Token Isn't Refreshing

      I have set up oauth for a bunch of zoho apis and have never had a problem with oauth. With workdrive i am using the exact same template i usually use for the other zoho apps and it is not working. All requests will work for the first hour then stops so

    • Adding Reports to Portals

      Is there a way to add Reports to portals so only the user can see report templates relevant to them?

    • Single Portal for Multiple Apps

      Hello, I'm just getting started with Zoho and I'm very overwhelmed. I am currently using the free trial of Zoho One, but if I can figure it out, I intend to upgrade to the paid version. Zoho One, of course, gives me  access to an entire suite of services/applications. One of the things I'd like to do is have a single place for clients (customers?) to log in and view current projects, invoices, contact information, etc. A single login for my clients. A single portal. I've come across documentation

    • 【開催報告】 大阪 ユーザー交流会 2025/11/20（木）Zoho CRM Plus 活用のアイデアとデータの“見える化”

      皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの中野です。 11/20（木）に、大阪 ユーザー交流会を開催しました。本投稿では、その様子をお届けします。 当日の登壇資料などもこちらに共有しますので、参加できなかった皆さまもご参照ください。 （Zoho 社員セッションの登壇資料については、11/28(金)に開催予定の東京回の開催報告で共有いたします） 今年2回目の開催となる大阪 ユーザー交流会では、株式会社KDDIウェブコミュニケーションズ 山田さんによる Zoho CRM Plus の事例セッションのほか、「Zoho

    • search and Smart Bar both missing in Mail

      One of the users on my account does not have the search bar at the top right or the Smart Bar at the bottom left of the desktop Mail app. Any ideas how to get those back?

    • Contact custom field in layout

      Good day, all, I have an "Extension" custom field in contacts, and would like to display the contact extension in the ticket layout, but I don't seem to be able to. What am I missing? Thanks Rudy

    • From Zoho CRM to Paper : Design & Print Data Directly using Canvas Print View

      Hello Everyone, We are excited to announce a new addition to your Canvas in Zoho CRM - Print View. Canvas print view helps you transform your custom CRM layouts into print-ready documents, so you can bring your digital data to the physical world with

    • Can I execute two 'functions' when completing a mail merge from CRM?

      Hi, I have set up a mail merge from CRM Deals to a template. I want a copy of this to be saved in Workdrive, and then a copy also saved back into the deal record from which the merge occurred. I can do both independent of each other, and managed to get

    • Every rating counts: Shaping customer experience

      We are back to that beautiful time of the year. It is the season to reflect, be thankful, and appreciate everything that has happened throughout the year. Thanksgiving is a time we connect with our family, friends, and relatives to strengthen relationships,

    • Paging through API results. a major gap in your documentation.

      There is no way for me. to get all of my data through a single API call. Typically REST APis have mechanisms for paging through API results. But the documentation for the API I am using: https://desk.zoho.com/DeskAPIDocument#Introduction Has no mention

    • How to remove duplicate contacts

    • Next Page