Can I upload an Excel file?

Not directly. Leadnote reads CSV files only. In Excel choose File > Save As > CSV, then upload the CSV file.

What is the biggest file I can import?

20MB, which is about 200,000 rows. Split a bigger file into parts and import them one after the other.

Can I import only the rows that failed?

Yes. Choose Download Error Report, fix the rows in that file and upload it again. Rows that already imported stay in Leadnote.

CSV import errors in Leadnote and how to fix them

Q: Why can I not see the Import leads page?

By default importing is available to the Account Owner and Managers. Ask your Account Owner if you need it.

Most import errors come from the file type, missing or repeated headers, unmapped columns, or values that do not fit their field. The wizard shows what is wrong before you import, and the result page lets you download a report of the failed rows.

Quick checks

The file ends in .csv. Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) are not read directly.
The first row holds column headers, followed by at least one record.
Every row has a First Name and at least one of Email or Mobile.
Mobile numbers include the country code, for example +91.
You chose a list to import into. Use Check without importing before Start Import.

Errors when you choose the file

Message	Cause	Fix
"Excel files cannot be read directly. In Excel choose File > Save As > CSV, then upload the CSV file."	You picked an Excel workbook.	Save it as CSV in Excel first.
"Unsupported file type. Upload a .csv file."	The file is not a CSV (.tsv and .txt text files also load).	Export the sheet as CSV. A renamed Excel file will not work.
"File is larger than 20MB. Split the file into smaller parts and import them one after the other."	The file is over the limit.	Split it into several files.
"No records found. The first row must contain column headers followed by at least one record."	The file is empty or has only headers.	Add a header row and a record.
"The file could not be read."	The file is damaged or not text.	Save it again as CSV and retry.
"Select a list to import into"	No list was chosen.	Pick a list in the first step.
"Column headers must be unique and not blank."	Two columns share a heading, or a heading is empty.	Rename the headings in row 1 so each one is different, then upload again.

Errors when you map columns

"Map the required field first" or Missing Required Field: First Name is not mapped. If your file has a single Name column, map it to First Name. Email or Mobile must also be mapped.
A warning that a field is already mapped: each field takes one column, and proceeding unmaps the first column.
Dates read wrongly: choose the real Date format in your file instead of -- Auto Detect --.
The mapping menu offers only the standard lead fields. Values for custom fields cannot be imported in this version, so add them on the lead afterwards.

Row errors in the dry run and the result

Check without importing shows a preview of the first 10 records and Rows that need attention. After the import the result reads Import completed successfully, Import completed with some errors or Import failed. Download Error Report gives every failed row with its reason.

Reason in the report	Fix
Either Email or Mobile is required	Fill at least one of the two.
First Name is required	Fill the name column for that row.
Email: "x" is not a valid email	Correct the address, with no spaces or missing @.
Mobile: "x" is not a valid phone number	Use 6 to 15 digits, with the country code.
Next Follow-up Date, Date of Birth: "x" is not a valid date	Use one date format in the whole column and select it in the mapping step. With Auto Detect, 01/02/2024 is read day first.
Potential: "x" must be one of high, medium, low, not_relevant	Use one of these values.
Deal Size: "x" is not a valid number, or is too large	Use plain numbers such as 1299.50, with no currency text.
Assigned To: no user with email x	Use the email address of an existing user, or leave it empty.

Unknown stage names are not errors: the lead gets the default stage. Rows without Assigned To follow the list's allocation rule, such as round robin.

Duplicates are skipped, not failed

By default the wizard uses Skip duplicate records. A row whose email or mobile number matches an existing lead is skipped and counted under Duplicates Skipped. Choose Download Duplicate Report to see them, or pick Update existing records or Add duplicate records instead (see the import guide). Mobile numbers are compared by their last 10 digits, so the same number with or without the country code is one number. A row repeated inside your own file counts as a duplicate of the earlier row. See duplicate leads.

Large files and imports that stop

Files with more than 2,000 rows import in the background, and you can leave the page.

Cancel import stops after the current batch, at most 500 rows. Rows already imported stay, and a cancelled import cannot be resumed. Upload the file again to import the rest; leads that exist are skipped as duplicates.
If the status shows Failed ("The import stopped"), choose Resume import. It continues from the last saved batch ("Rows saved so far stay.").
If the status is "This account is suspended. Contact support.", the import cannot run until the account is active again.

Imports of the last 90 days are listed under View Import Logs.

Access and where imported leads go

By default users with the L1 or L2 role cannot open the wizard and see "Import and export of files is available to the account owner and managers. Ask your account owner if you need it." L1 users can still export from the lead list. Imported leads belong to the list you chose, and whether you see them depends on lead visibility rules.

Web app vs mobile app

Spreadsheet imports run in the web app. The mobile app imports phone contacts and .vcf files instead. See import phone contacts or a VCF file.

Still stuck?

Send support the file name, the import status and the error report with personal data removed. The import guide has the full steps.