How to Import Contacts Using a CSV File in GoHighLevel

When moving data from tools like ClickUp or other CRMs into GoHighLevel, importing contacts via CSV is one of the fastest ways to get started. This guide walks you through every step of the GoHighLevel CSV import process so you can safely bring in leads, prospects, and customers without losing important data.

Before You Import Contacts into GoHighLevel

Proper preparation of your CSV file is essential to avoid errors during the GoHighLevel import process.

Prepare your CSV file for GoHighLevel

Make sure your file follows these guidelines before uploading:

• Use a .csv file format (comma-separated values).
• Include a header row with clear column names, such as First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone.
• Remove any formulas, merged cells, or special characters that are not needed.
• Ensure each contact has at least one unique identifier, usually an email or phone number.
• Check for duplicate rows and clean them if necessary.

Well-structured data helps GoHighLevel map fields accurately and prevents failed imports.

Required permissions in GoHighLevel

To import contacts, you must have permission to manage contacts inside your GoHighLevel sub-account. If you do not see import options, contact your account admin to adjust your user permissions.

Step-by-Step: Import Contacts into GoHighLevel

Follow these steps to upload and import your CSV file successfully in GoHighLevel.

Step 1: Navigate to the Contacts area in GoHighLevel

1. Log in to your GoHighLevel account.
2. Select the correct Sub-Account where you want to add contacts.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Contacts.

This is the main workspace where all your GoHighLevel contacts will appear after the import.

Step 2: Start the GoHighLevel CSV import

1. Inside the Contacts page, look for an Import or Upload button, typically near the top right.
2. Click the button to open the CSV import window.
3. Choose the option to upload a file from your computer.
4. Select your prepared .csv file and confirm the upload.

GoHighLevel will process the file and move you to the field-mapping screen.

Step 3: Map CSV columns to GoHighLevel fields

Mapping is where you tell GoHighLevel which CSV column belongs to which contact field.

1. For each column in your CSV, choose the corresponding GoHighLevel field from the dropdown.
2. Common mappings include:
   • First Name → First Name
   • Last Name → Last Name
   • Email → Email
   • Phone → Phone
   • Company → Company Name (or custom field)
3. If your CSV contains custom data (for example, Source, Plan Type, or Tag List), you can map those to existing custom fields or create new custom fields in GoHighLevel.

Review every mapping carefully. Incorrect mappings can lead to contacts with missing or misplaced information inside GoHighLevel.

Step 4: Configure GoHighLevel import options

Before starting the final import, configure how the platform should handle duplicates and tags.

• Duplicate handling
  • Choose whether GoHighLevel should skip duplicates or update existing contacts when a matching email or phone is found.
  • For clean data, many users prefer updating existing contacts so that new details from the CSV are added to existing records.
• Tagging imported contacts
  • Add a tag (for example, csv-import-2025 or webinar-list) so you can later filter these contacts easily in GoHighLevel.

These options help you keep your contact database inside GoHighLevel organized and easy to segment.

Step 5: Start the import and monitor progress

1. After reviewing your field mappings and options, click the button to Start Import or Begin Upload.
2. GoHighLevel will process the CSV in the background. For large files, this can take several minutes.
3. Once completed, you will usually see a summary indicating how many contacts were imported successfully and how many failed.

If any contacts failed to import, GoHighLevel may provide an error report or message so you can identify and fix the issues.

Troubleshooting Common GoHighLevel CSV Import Issues

If your import does not work as expected, check for the following common issues within your GoHighLevel setup and CSV file.

Incorrect file format or encoding

• Confirm the file is saved as .csv, not .xlsx or another format.
• Use standard UTF-8 encoding to prevent character issues.
• Re-save the file from your spreadsheet editor explicitly as CSV if needed.

Missing or invalid required fields

• Make sure important fields, such as email or phone, are included and correctly formatted.
• Remove text from numeric-only fields (like phone numbers) if your data contains letters or symbols that are not accepted.
• Check that the header row does not contain merged cells or multiple labels in a single column.

Duplicate contacts during GoHighLevel import

• Review your duplicate-handling settings defined during the import process.
• If too many duplicates were skipped, you may want to re-import with a different rule (for example, update existing contacts instead of skipping).
• Always keep a backup of your original CSV before any GoHighLevel import so you can adjust and try again without losing data.

Best Practices for Managing Contacts in GoHighLevel

After a successful import, apply these best practices to keep your GoHighLevel contact database clean and actionable.

Use tags and custom fields consistently

• Apply clear, descriptive tags for each imported list, such as newsletter-subscribers or event-attendees.
• Standardize custom field names across your GoHighLevel sub-accounts to avoid confusion.
• Document your field structure so team members import data in a consistent way.

Test automations after importing to GoHighLevel

• If you have workflows or campaigns triggered by new contacts, verify that new imported contacts are entering the correct automations.
• Use a small test CSV with a few dummy contacts before running a large import into GoHighLevel.
• Check that emails, SMS, and pipelines are working as expected with the newly imported records.

Additional GoHighLevel Resources

To dive deeper into the official documentation, you can review the original help article on importing contacts via CSV here: GoHighLevel CSV Import Guide.

If you need implementation support, optimization, or CRM migration strategy, you can also explore expert services at Consultevo, which specializes in marketing technology and automation consulting.

By following the steps in this guide, you can reliably import your contact lists into GoHighLevel using CSV files, keep your data structured, and ensure every new contact is ready for nurturing, automation, and reporting.

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