# Import contacts

> Upload your lead database to watsi from a CSV, TSV or XML file of up to 10 MB and 5,000 contacts. How to prepare the file and what happens to duplicates.

Source: https://docs.watsi.ai/en/crm/import-contacts

**To import contacts, click Import in Contacts and upload a CSV, TSV or XML file of up to 10 MB that has a phone column.** watsi detects the name, phone and email columns on its own, shows you a preview to choose which rows to upload, and creates up to 5,000 contacts per import. Contacts that already exist are skipped — never duplicated or overwritten.

> **Note**
> Only workspace owners and admins see the **Import** button.

## Prepare your file

- **Format:** CSV, TSV or XML, 10 MB max. If your database is in Excel, save it as CSV.
- **A phone column is required.** Name its header, for example, `phone` or `teléfono`. Rows without a phone are not imported.
- **Name and email are optional.** If present, watsi detects them from their header and values.
- Include the **country code** in phone numbers (for example, `+52 55 1234 5678`) so the number is valid on WhatsApp.

```csv contacts.csv
name,phone,email
Ana López,+5215512345678,ana@example.com
Luis Pérez,+5213398765432,
```

## Import

### Open the import
### Upload the file
    Drag it in or click to select it. watsi reads the file and recognizes the columns on its own.
### Check the preview
    You see how many contacts it found and how many are repeated inside the same file. Untick any
    rows you don't want to upload.
### Confirm
    When it finishes, watsi shows how many contacts were created, how many duplicates were skipped
    and how many had errors.

## Limits and duplicates

| Limit               | Value         |
| ------------------- | ------------- |
| File size           | 10 MB         |
| Contacts per import | 5,000         |
| Formats             | CSV, TSV, XML |

- A contact counts as a **duplicate** if one with the same email or the same phone already exists. Duplicates **are skipped**, not overwritten.
- If the existing contact had no name (or its name was just the number), the import fills in the name.
- If you later spot repeated contacts that were not caught, review them in [Duplicates](/crm/duplicates).

## Related

- [Contacts (CRM)](/crm/contacts)
- [WhatsApp campaigns](/campaigns/whatsapp-campaigns) — to message the database you imported.

## FAQ

### Which file formats can I import contacts from?

CSV, TSV and XML (also .txt with separated values), up to 10 MB. Excel (.xlsx) is not accepted directly; save it as CSV first.

### How many contacts can I import at once?

Up to 5,000 contacts per import. If your database is larger, split it into several files.

### What happens if a contact in the file already exists in watsi?

It is skipped. watsi does not overwrite the existing contact; it only fills in the name if it had none. At the end you see how many duplicates were skipped.